Every team and coach wants their team to play champagne rugby and win games by scoring a hatful of outstanding tries but there is more than one way of getting the points.

On Saturday, in the re-arranged fixture against Torquay, Saints proved that they are able to grind out a tough win when required.

For those unfamiliar with the Tics pitch it lies right on the seafront. According to the locals it is actually below sea level! When the tide comes in that makes it very heavy as water seeps under the ground, forcing the phenomenal amount of rain we have had recently to the surface.

On Saturday, high tide was at 2, so while still heavy for kick off at 2:30pm the pitch was in better nick than on our previous visit. Great credit must go to the Torquay ground staff who worked so hard during the week.

The Saints began the game playing with the sea behind them, attacking the cricket pitch end. With the Ashwin brothers kicking well and mixing up the game, Tics spent the first quarter of the game under severe pressure but they defended well and all the Saints had to show for their efforts was a 17th minute penalty from Liam Freeman ( 17 mins 0 – 3 ).

Having been penned in their own 22 , the opportunity to re-start the game from the halfway line seemed to encourage the Devonians and they now launched a concerted attack on the Saints line. A series of driving lineouts and punishing close quarter collisions were repulsed by the miserly and determined Saints defence.
In one bizarre situation the Saints, having stood firm for the best part of 15 minutes as wave after wave of Torquay attacks broke on a red and white wall of defiance, were awarded a penalty 5m from their line for Torquay not releasing. An ideal opportunity to suck some life out of the game and find a good touch was spurned when a quick tap was taken but knocked on, leading to another extended spell of pressure which was also repelled.

Defence is not just about individual performance but an attitude of mind that the whole team has to have and fair to say that there were great defensive performances and commitment throughout the side, as the Saints heard the half time whistle go to take their 0-3 lead into the break.

The second half began as the first with the Saints pounding away at the Torquay line but with more urgency and verve. Tony Knight carried well, while Choppy Martin was also prominent. In the backs, low-slung teenage centre George Tregilgas began to make an impact, running some hard straight lines.

Following a well executed series of aggressive forward drives it was veteran flanker Ian Venner who broke through and forced his way over the line to stretch the lead with a well-deserved try, converted by Liam Freeman ( 52 mins 0 – 10 )
Once again the Tics responded to put pressure on the Saints. Their heavy pack set up a series of pick and drives which had to be chopped down before they gained momentum. The Saints again proved equal to the task and after they had turned ball over must have felt that they would clear the lines.
However, one of our backs was heard swearing by the referee who immediately reversed his decision and awarded a penalty under the posts to the hosts. The Devon Referees Society have been very clear that they will penalise swearing should they hear it and of course nobody wants to hear bad language. While I am not pointing a finger at our Referee, who I felt was very good and merely acting as his society had mandated, it could have been a costly slip of the tongue. In a game where referees need eyes in the back of their heads it seems to me that this may be an unnecessary extra burden for referees to carry.

The Saints took a deep breath, recovered and re-settled and with CJ Boyce and Liam Freeman kicking well for position, looked in good shape to see out a hard fought win. There was one final twist in this heavyweight encounter.
In one final desperate effort to score, Torquay produced the move of the match with a glorious wrap-around sending their 13 through a gaping hole with an apparently free run to the try line. With the Torquay crowd already celebrating, It was Colts winger Fraser Nottle, a 73rd minute replacement for Cav Boyer, who galloped to the rescue. Turning and tracking down the Torquay player he not only put in an outstanding tackle but then helped to turn the ball over and clear our lines.

With 6 minutes of injury time played the Referees whistle went to signal a hard fought but well deserved victory.

Rugby is not all pretty patterns and lovely offloads, sometimes you have to hang in there when things are not going as you want and work hard to get over the line first. This may not have been the best win or performance but we showed huge character and fantastic resolve throughout. As we enter a key part of the season these are characteristics that will hold us in good stead. We do not believe that St Austell have ever won at Torquay and I personally have been there 4 times and always found it a very difficult place to play. To go with a young side and bring home a win was great …. COYS !!!!