Despite applying prolonged periods of pressure on the Kingsbridge try line regularly throughout the game, the Saints just could not breakdown the hosts’ vice-like defence. The home side on the other hand proved to be clinical in attack to leave the Cornishmen chasing the game.

The visitors started confidently enough, moving the ball well in the early exchanges without carving out an opportunity of real note. A penalty for offside enabled the home side to set up a lineout platform inside the Saints’ 22. Although the visitors repelled the initial catch and drive, Kingsbridge patiently racked up a series of pick and go drives before hooker Jake Vincent crashed over under the posts (7-0). The visitors responded well and both Jack Nelson and Ben Chenoweth went close out wide on the wings. The home side were starting to rack up the penalties and Liam Freeman calmly took three points to get the visitors on the scoreboard (7-3). The Saints were soon back on the offensive and a rumbling maul looked to be on track to deliver the try despite the attentions of several Kingsbridge defenders on the wrong side. The maul collapsed and even though the referee had clearly warned the home infringers to get back on-side no penalty was forthcoming, and the moment was gone. Saints’ frustrations mounted when the ball was turned over inside the Kingsbridge half with the visitors feeling that Jack Nelson was taken out off the ball preventing him from receiving the pass. Winger Guy Parrott picked up the loose ball to run 60m unaccosted to the try line (14-3). The restart kick did not reach 10m but Kingsbridge played on to exploit some naivety in the Saints ranks who were expecting a scrum on halfway. Jeff Merrin slalomed passed a statuesque defence to leave a shell-shocked Saints 21-3 down at half time after an evenly contested first 40 minutes.

Kingsbridge turned the screw early in the second half and a Leman penalty was quickly followed by a try from centre Ben Glover to leave the Saints 29-3 adrift with 30 minutes still to go. The visitors deserve great credit for not collapsing as they dug deep to dominate the final quarter. George Tregilgas had a try chalked off for a forward pass in the build-up and skipper Miles Davey almost caught the Kingsbridge defence out with a cheeky lineout move. The Saints finally got their reward when Ben Chenoweth dived in at the corner, Liam Freeman’s conversion attempt summed up the Saints’ day when his touchline kick thumped off the post.

A bonus point win for Devonport Services sees them jump into second place and two points ahead to put them in the box seat for the play-offs. The Saints are now assured of third place and travel to mid-table Sidmouth needing a win and hoping that relegation threatened Tiverton can turn the tables on Services to grab the play-off slot on the last game of the season (15:00 KO).

St Austell
1 Charlie Nicholson; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Hugh Noott; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Adam Kellow; 7 Ian Venner; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Liam Freeman 13 George Tregilgas; 14 Jack Nelson; 15 Cavan Boyer

Reps (All used):
Peter Rowe; Josh Phillips; Max Goudge

St Austell:
Tries –Ben Chenoweth (78)
Cons – Liam Freeman (24)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Kingsbridge
Tries – Jake Vincent (9); Guy Parrott (38); Jeff Merrin (39); Ben Glover (47)
Cons – Thom Leman (9, 38, 39)
Pens – Thom Leman (45)
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr G Fairbairn (Plymouth RRS)