The top of the table clash lived up to its star billing as the two sides delivered a match full of commitment, physicality and skill to richly entertain a noisy Tregorrick crowd. Saints dominated the first half but were made to dig deep in the second period to ensure a deserved victory against the best side the hosts have faced this season.

The importance of the game was obvious from the outset with both teams hitting the collisions with real venom and total commitment. Cleve started strongly to put the home side under immediate pressure in the opening exchanges. They were rewarded when the Saints were penalised for not releasing the tackler and fly half Olly Philip stroked over the penalty to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead. The Cornishmen responded well recovering the ball from the restart to put Cleve under the cosh for a prolonged period. In a remarkable phase of play the Saints crossed the Cleve line on three times only for the ball to be adjudged as held up on each occasion. The Cleve defence was proving a difficult nut to crack so it took something special to finally unlock it. Scrum half Andy Ashwin darted up the blindside from a scrum on the 22 before stepping inside to split the defence. A deft reverse pass to the supporting Ian Venner gave the flanker a clear run to the try line to put the home side 5-3 up. The home side continued to press but the visitors’ defence was holding even if it was becoming increasingly desperate at times. A driving maul saw prop Hugh Noott crash over the line but it was again adjudged to be held up although the Saints players were convinced it was grounded. A small melee ensued and Cleve captain Brad Horman was sent to the sin bin for taking things a little too far. The home took full advantage and finally they made the pressure tell when number 8 Adam Kellow drove hard and low to score under the posts. Fly half Matt Shepherd added the extras to give the Saints a 12-3 half time lead.

Cleve came out of the blocks for the second half to try wresting control of the game from the home side. The opening 10 minutes were full of big collisions and full throttle tackling as both sides went flat out in a wonderfully absorbing physical contest. On 50 minutes the Saints finally got the upper hand with a series of fast paced rucks that forced a Cleve infringement to allow Shepherd to add 3 points. Cleve’s reply was emphatic and they took the game straight back to the Saints. A penalty was kicked to touch deep into the home 22 and although the Saints defended the catch and drive well they had no answer to a move off the resulting scrum. A powerful surge by the Cleve pack allowed number 8 Sam Roach to peel off and his smart off load to Nathan Huntley gave the scrum half a clear route to the line. Olly Philip’s conversion brought the league leaders right back into the game. The Saints knew they had to score next to keep Cleve at bay and it was that man Kellow who provided the inspiration for the next try. The number 8 was at the fulcrum of a series of high tempo drives to put the visitors on the back foot. Ashwin finally got his backs away, full back Dan Pearce joined the line at pace and his diagonal run split the Cleve defence asunder to put the Saints 20-10. Cleve used their powerful forwards to great effect to lay siege on the Saints’ line. The home defence was holding firm until Matt Shepherd was penalised for coming out of the traps too quickly. The Saints’ skipper was shown a yellow card but worse was to follow when Cleve grabbed a controversial score to set up a tense finale. The penalty was kicked to touch and from the resulting catch and drive flanker Neil Evans peeled off into the corner. The ball was dislodged from his hands in the act of grounding, the unsighted referee remarkably decided to consult the Cleve Touch Judge before deciding to award the try. The sense of injustice galvanised the home side to withstand a torrid final ten minutes as Cleve looked for the score to win the game. The 14 Saints defended valiantly as Cleve pounded away, with just two minutes left the visitors were penalised for not releasing and the home side were able to close the game out to win a memorable contest.

Next week the Saints travel to Somerset to visit mid-table Clevedon (KO 2:30pm).

Match Stats:
St Austell: Noott; Grigg; Martin; Howorth; Pearce; Jeffs; Venner; Kellow; Ashwin; Shepherd (Captain); Chenoweth; Welland; Wilson; Taylor; Pearce (D)
Replacements: Rowe; Winterbottom; Tank

St Austell:
Tries – Ian Venner (22); Adam Kellow (35); Dan Pearce (61)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (35)
Pens – Matt Shepherd (50)
Drop Goal –

Cleve:
Tries – Nathan Huntley (55); Neil Evans (70)
Cons – Olly Philip (55)
Pens – Olly Philip (3)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Matt Shepherd (68)
Cleve: Brad Horman (31)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Cleve: None

Referee: Kevin Williams (Cornwall RRS)
Saints Man of the Match: Adam Kellow