By Paul Hayes

Wellington 28 St Austell 24

A pulsating top of the table clash saw Wellington grab the win to leapfrog St Austell at the summit on points difference. A game that gripped a large crowd from start to finish saw the two sides go hammer and tongs keeping the result in doubt right up to the final stages. The Saints were the better side in the first half but found themselves 15-7 down at the interval thanks to three clinical finishes by the home side. In a game of small margins, that left a proverbial mountain to climb in the second period with the home side in the ascendency.

The never say die Cornishmen clawed their way back to 25-24 in the closing stages, but Welly held their nerve to see out the game, showing all the qualities that have seen them among this season’s league pacesetters.

The Saints applied the early pressure and looked assured and confident in possession as they tested and probed the home defence. The visitors were left stunned on seven minutes when from a routine maul on the halfway line scrum half Daniel Goldstone spotted a gap and streaked down the blindside with the Saints’ defence wrong footed (5-0).

Saints continue to apply the territorial pressure and with the home defence holding firm it was clear something special was going to be needed to breakthrough. Max Bullen was the man to oblige, evading the first up tacklers on halfway the Saints winger then chipped over the Welly full back before gathering the ball to dive under the posts. Fly half James Tucker applied the extras to give the visitors a deserved lead (5-7).

From the restart the Saints looked like they were going to add another try in the Clubhouse corner but the pass to Frazer Nottle was knocked forward by Welly. The referee deemed it a deliberate act and sent winger Ashley Hanley to the bin, but it was an intervention that was to prove crucial in the final context of the game. The Welly defence was proving a hard nut to crack, mounting Saints’ frustrations led to indiscipline and they conceded three penalties in quick succession enabling the home side to move play from one 22 to the other. Wellington had an attacking platform for the first time in the game and took full advantage when number eight Cameron Venn crashed over to restore the home lead (10-7).

Welly finished the half on top and deep into time added on, live wire flanker Liam Phillips rubbed salt into Saints’ wounds to dive over in the corner (15-7).

James Tucker kept Saints’ on the Welly coat tails with a penalty early in the second half (15-10) but the home side were now on top playing towards their favoured Clubhouse corner. Increasingly desperate defence from the Saints prevented the home side from taking the direct route to the try line. Unfortunately, with increasing numbers being committed to the rucks, it allowed winger Christopher Batts to find the space to score out wide (20-10).

The Saints responded well to the set back by regaining some momentum in the Welly 22. The home side’s set piece was under pressure from the Saints’ eight but manged to creakingly survive a series of 5m scrums. The visitors were not to be denied and a line out catch and drive saw prop Hugh Noott crash over from a rolling maul (20-17).

The game was now delicately poised with both sides probing for the next opportunity. The Saints blinked first, lost patience and strayed offside to allow Welly a kick deep into the Clubhouse corner. The home side star man Liam Phillips darted over from the line out to the delight of the home support (25-17).

The Saints showed great resilience to mount another charge and looked to have scored when a driving maul crashed over the Welly try line. It was deemed to have been held up, but the rampant Saints pack were not to be denied and number eight Kyle Marriott touched down from the resulting 5m scrum as the Welly forwards were again driven backwards. James Tucker kept his nerve with a difficult conversion to put the visitors within a point (25-24).

With time running out the home side sensibly kept the ball tight and the frustrated Saints gave away a stream of penalties as the efforts to regain possession became increasingly desperate. Full back Alex Davey kicked over a penalty, with the time taken to find a kicking tee probably more important than the resulting three points that make the final score 28-24.

A cracking game that was a credit to both sides and the Western Counties league. Wellington were deserved winners showing real mettle when under pressure and a clinical edge to take opportunities as they presented themselves. The Saints played excellent rugby in patches to push the home side all the way and demonstrated real spirit to keep coming back and indeed almost snatched the victory at the end.

Next week Saints are away again but a much shorter trip this time along the Fal Valley to take on Cornish rivals Falmouth (KO 2:30pm).
1 Mike Shakespear; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Adam Kellow; 6 Andy Inch; 7 Cameron Taylor; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 Dan Tyrrell; 10 James Tucker; 11 Fraser Nottle; 12 Ben Plummer 13 Sam Parsons; 14 Max Bullen; 15 CJ Boyce
Reps (All used):
Hugh Noott; Alex Welland; Josh Phillips

Saints Star Man: Miles Davey – A Captain’s performance that oozed determination, commitment and passion that galvanized his team to follow his example

St Austell:
Tries – Max Bullen (23); Hugh Noott (59); Kyle Marriott (74)
Cons – James Tucker (23, 59, 74)
Pens – James Tucker (43)
Drop Goal –

Wellington:
Tries – Daniel Goldstone (5), Cameron Venn (33), Liam Phillips (40+2; 68); Christopher Batts (49);
Cons –
Pens – Alex Davey (78)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Adam Kellow (49)
Wellington: Thomas Crosby (19); Ashley Hanley (26)

What’s Coming Up

Youth Section Christmas Parties - Older Players Party incl. Silent Disco Friday 13th December 7pm. Younger players party incl games and Santa visit Sunday 15th December 2pm. See your TM’s. Open to all youth players!

Saturday 14th December- last Saints home game before Xmas! Saints v Kingsbridge, 8 x Christmas Food Hampers to be won, reindeer racing and Christmas Karaoke. [b More details HERE[/b]

Sponsors Day - Saturday 4th January 20. If you’re one of our sponsors then you’re invited to a spot of lunch on us! If you’re not one of our sponsors and are now thinking ‘why aren’t I?’ get in touch at st_austellrfc@outlook.com to find out the opportunities. If you haven’t received an invite then get in touch on the email below.

Ex-Players Day - 11th January 20 - Ful details of the Senior Players Award Scheme are now released. In summary if you’re an ex-senior level St Austell RFC player this is going to interest you. As long as you have played one or more games for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd XVs or Vets you are entitled to an award. More details are HERE.