Torquay Athletic 25 - St Asutell RFC 18

The Saints played with more cohesion and appetite than has been witnessed since before Christmas the difference between the two sides a penalty try and missed opportunities, lets not be harsh the decisions made on the pitch reflect the way the team are playing with the Saints competing at this level needing to ensure that points scoring opportunities in front of the posts are taken, it is the precision in completing the move and the discipline to structure the counter attack rather than kick away possession.

Saints started the match immediately attacking the Torquay line, the switching between Skipper Andy Ashwin and Scrum Half Matt Shepherd playing havoc with the home defence, this pressure earning an early penalty but due to momentum saints decided to tap and go rather than the very kickable option, a resulting turnover scrum and clearance taking the play back to the Saints, this compelling to and fro continued for the first ten minutes, the wave of rolling mauls against Saints swift counter and stoic defending was as frustrating as it was exciting but Torquay scored the first points a converted penalty by Centre Matt Jackson followed just 2 minutes later by a 13 man pushover try with the conversion again by Jackson. The tide had turned in the home sides favour and Saints continued to battle for every inch of the pitch, another Jackson penalty saw the home side extend their lead to 13- 0 until the Saints whose textbook restart enabled Matt Shepherd to reduce the deficit by converting a penalty and then a further opportunity for Shepherd after the Saints pack had given Torquay a proper lesson in how to ruck and maul half time 13-6.

From the restart Saints took the play straight to Torquay but to be turned over after the Tics forwards had edged the Scrum play was then forced deep into Saints territory, a defensive scrum going horribly wrong and a penalty try awarded to the Tics with Jackson having a golden kicking day converting, the score now 20-6. Saints now dug deep showing character, skill and resilience their fitness better than than the oppositions, camped in the Torquay 22 they launched a frenzy of attacks, Centre James Earp breaking through the defence with a piercing run but judged to have knocked on but Saints had penalty advantage and the omnipotent Paul Winterbottom scored the try with Matt Shepherd converting. Saints won the restart and Prop Hugh Noott took the drive the ball and drove deep into the the home sides half, a penalty was awarded and Torquay cleared into the Saints 22 the ball was bravely won by Lock Adam Pierce but valuable possession was kicked away giving Torquay the chance to attack, a scrum awarded a bad defensive pass from Aswhin letting the Tics Scrum Alex Jeffrey scamper over for a relatively soft try, this is when Saints suffered the loss of their Captain who left the pitch with a suspected broken arm. The score now 25-13 Saints now using all their replacements
Craig Taylor on for the injured Rhodes who appeared to have been used as a doormat, Jack Hughes front row replacement for Ryan Brown and Dave Swiggs on for the injured Ashwin. The Saints seemed to further rally from these changes Swiggs immediately making an impact giving a platform for Flanker Sean Harem to score, Shepherd uncharacteristically missing the conversion, did the unsporting booing from the home crowd assist we'll never know, but the Torquay side although having the chance to keep play alive and press for a bonus point took their coaches advice and kicked the ball out of play to end the match.

Sore loss but heads held high as this display will provide a good platform for next weeks trip again over the Tamar to Bideford.

Torquay Tries Jackson, Jeffrey, Penalty
Cons Jackson 2
Pens Jackson 2
St Austell Tries Winterbottom, Harem
Pens Shepherd 2
Con Shepherd