The Devon side ruthlessly exploited the Saints’ frailties with some staid but effective grunt and grind rugby that delivered four clinically executed catch and drive tries. These were topped up by one each from the Bideford wingers giving the home side a well-deserved 39-7 victory that enabled them to leapfrog the Saints in the league table.
The match kicked off in bright sunshine and with a strong breeze at their backs Saints started the stronger. Moving the ball slickly through the phases the Cornishmen dominated territory and possession in the first quarter. Full back Sam Rhodes crossed the line in the corner after some excellent work by the forwards only to have the ball spilled from his grasp before touching down. Minutes later Saints opened the scoring after a brilliant blindside break from debutant scrum half Marcus McCoan. The youngster drew the Bideford defence before passing to supporting centre Ian Venner who dived in at the corner. With skipper Andy Ashwin out with a broken arm, Matt Shepherd had moved out to fly-half and he slotted over the difficult conversion. Saints continued to press and looked to have created an overlap only for flanker Paul Winterbottom to collide with the Bideford physio before he could get the pass away. Bideford dug deep relying on their forwards to work the ball up field through a series of rolling mauls. A Saints infringement allowed fly half Ollie Wickett to drill the ball into touch close to the try line for the line out. The initial catch and drive was repelled but the hosts reset to allow prop George Snell to score under a heap of bodies. Wickett converted. Five minutes later Bideford scored again from another catch and drive, this time through flanker Jamie Giddy. In time added on Wickett kicked an astute drop goal to make the score 15-7 at halftime.

Hooker Joe Hughes came on for Saints number 8 Rob Jeffs, who had struggled through most of the first half after taking a sly knee to the back in the opening exchanges. Despite having several other walking wounded Saints made a high tempo start to the second half that appeared to have the hosts rattled. However an over ambitious pass led to an interception and a scrambling defence that put the ball into touch just 10m from the Saints try line. Another catch and drive rumbled over for Bideford number 8 Richard Norman to score with Wickett converting. Young Saints Prop Ryan Knott injured a hand in the build-up to the try and was replaced by the Cornwall U20 player Ryan Brown. Things worsened for Saints in a ten minute spell that saw lock Matt Couzens forced from the field with a shoulder injury leaving the Cornishmen with no specialist line-out jumper, and two further Bideford tries. First flanker Matt Dennis completed the quartet of catch and drive tries and then Wickett kicked across field for winger Sam Olde to touch down. Saints responded with spirit and determination in the final 15 minutes of the game showing great character as they tried to wrest some consolation from the game. Saints’ luck was summed up with the home side’s final try when with an overlap beckoning a loose pass allowed Bideford to gather the ball and break out from their own 22m. With Saints over committed to the attack winger Josh King was able to run in the try which Wickett converted to close the scoring.

This was a tough day for the Saints made worse by an ever increasing injury list. There were some positives to draw on with young half backs McCoan and Shepherd showing some early promise that they may develop into a potent pairing. McCoan can be particularly pleased with his man of the match performance after being given a robust introduction into Western Counties rugby by the strong Bideford side. Saints will look to regroup this week and will be desperate to return to winning ways at home against Cornish rivals Bude (kick off 2:30, Saturday 10 March at Tregorrick Park). Although Saints have won twice this season at Bencoolen Meadow both games were tighter than the score line suggested so it will take a return to form to ensure a hat trick of victories.

Match Stats:
St Austell: Noott; Grigg; Knott (Brown 42); Pearce; Couzens (Evison 56); Swiggs; Winterbottom; Jeffs (Hughes 40); McCoan; Shepherd; Chenoweth; Earp (Captain); Venner; Welland; Rhodes.

St Austell: Tries – Venner (15)
Cons – Shepherd
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Bideford: Tries – Snell (27); Giddy (35); Norman (42); Dennis (52); Olde (60); King (69)
Cons – Wickett (3)
Pens – Wickett

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Grigg (50)
Bideford:

Red Cards St Austell: None Bideford: None

Referee: Mr P Dummett (Devon RRS)

Saints Man of the Match: Marcus McCoan