The Saints did not have it all their own way and were put under real pressure in the opening quarter of the match. The set pieces and tight exchanges were a compelling contest for the first hour but it was the visitors’ greater pace around the pitch and ultimately their fitness that added the gloss to the margin of victory.

After three weeks of high winds both sides were grateful that the game kicked off in bright autumnal sunshine and a gentle breeze. An offside at the start allowed Cully centre Ross Toms to stroke over a 40m penalty. The fired up home pack were taking the game to the visitors severely testing the Cornishmen’s renowned defence. After repelling some well executed rolling mauls a stray offside allowed Toms to add another 3 points. In the 17th minute the Saints finally got on the front foot with a counterattack led by full back Dan Pearce that took play deep into the home 22. Although Cully snuffed out the initial threat good ball retention allowed the Saints to build the phases that enabled Darren Pellow to dive over in the corner. Cully hit straight back and a beautifully timed angle run by Toms split the Saints defence asunder, despite a great cover tackle by Saints winger Sam Tank a deft offload set full back Adam Pearce under the posts. The conversion by Toms gave Cully a deserved 13-5 lead. Saints responded with vigour to turn the tide and it was the home side’s turn to man the barricades against the high tempo Cornish attacks. Good work by flanker Paul Winterbottom set Saints full back Dan Pearce on his way for a try. Matt Shepherd’s conversion brought the visitors to within a point of the home side. Minutes later Shepherd unlocked the Cully drift defence by darting through a gap, the skipper’s conversion put Saints 19-13 ahead at half time.

Saints started the second period as they finished the first, and after a period of sustained pressure prop Usain Noott threw an outrageous dummy to accelerate over the line. Cully were now struggling to contain the Saints and when an attempted clearance kick was charged down by centre Alex Welland winger Ashley Taylor finished clinically under the posts. Shepherd’s conversion made it 31-13 with 50 minutes gone. To their great credit Cully galvanised themselves and mounted a period of sustained pressure in the Saints’ 22. The visitors had to withstand a prolonged battering with the home forwards using a series of scrums and line outs to launch a multitude of attacks. After ten minutes of almost unrelenting pressure the defensive shield cracked and flanker Josh Mammola dived over in the corner for an unconverted try. The attacking efforts seemed to drain the home side and it was the visitors who finished the match strongly. A scrum turnover allowed number 8 Adam Kellow and scrum half Andy Ashwin to combine to send Pellow on a defence splitting run for a converted try. Another scrum against the head triggered a blindside move that allowed Kellow to crown a Man of the Match display with a well-deserved try, converted by Shepherd. There was still time for Shepherd to add an eighth try with a mazy run through tired defenders to bring the curtain down at 50-18.

Saints finished deserved winners against a resolute and determined Cully side who enjoyed their full share of possession for portions of the game. The Saints are proving to be adept at fashioning tries from all areas of the field and that clinical finishing can turn a game on its head at any time.

Next week the Saints host their third consecutive Cornish home derby when Truro visit Tregorrick for the eagerly awaited County Cup quarter final (KO 2:30pm).

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott; Davey; Martin; Vian; Pearce (A); Kellow; Winterbottom; Jeffs; Cotton; Ashwin; Shepherd (Captain); Chenoweth; Welland; Pellow; Taylor; Tank; Pearce (D)
Replacements: Rowe; Howorth; Murley T

St Austell:
Tries – Darren Pellow (20, 71); Dan Pearce (32); Matt Shepherd (36,79); Usain Noott (45);
Ashley Taylor (48); Adam Kellow (77)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (32, 36, 48, 71, 77)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Cullompton:
Tries – Adam Pearce (22); Josh Mammola (60)
Cons – Ross Toms (22)
Pens – Ross Toms (1, 13)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Cullompton: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Cullompton: None

Referee: Exchange Referee (Gloucester & District Society)

Saints Man of the Match: Adam Kellow