The Saints paid the price for a disastrous opening quarter that allowed the home side to race into a 20-3 lead and take control of the match. A storming comeback brought the visitors back in touch but it was never quite enough as the Hornets hung on to run out deserved winners. A great advert for SW1 rugby but one that left the Saints and their travelling army of fans frustrated by an error strewn performance. The normally assured handling of the Saints was littered with unforced errors and erratic decision making and in the Hornets the visitors found a side determined, willing and able to exploit every mistake.

Concerns in the build-up about the weather and the state of the Hutton Moor pitch gave way to a mild almost sunny day in Somerset. The Saints started confidently with their forwards carrying well and making good progress into Hornets territory. Two infringements not only turned over possession but also allowed the home side to get the first points of the day when winger Jermaine Jones slotted over from 35m. The Saints hit back quickly and a surging break from full back Dan Pearce forced the home side to stray offside allowing skipper Matt Shepherd to put the Saints on level terms. Then disaster struck, first a bobbling ball and an unkind bounce eluded the Saints defence allowing winger Charlie Carter to nip in for an opportunist try. The Hornets were now buzzing and the Saints defence creaked and groaned in the face of swarming home attacks. A knock on in midfield allowed the Hornets to launch a move off the scrum for full back Matt Cornish to dive in at the corner. The Saints appeared in shock and more carelessness in possession enabled the home side to counter attack in some style. Steady build up play through the forwards created the space for Cornish to scoot over. Jones’ conversion made the electronic scoreboard a painful sight for the visitors at 20-3. A nasty cut on the head forced fly half Treve Murley from the field but it did mean the experienced Andy Ashwin would now enter the fray. Ashwin galvanised a side that appeared to be lurching towards the ropes and the Saints deserve great credit for their fight back. The visitors finally started to gain a foot hold in the game and put the home side under sustained pressure. A couple of near misses culminated in a lineout catch and drive being held up but the defensive efforts meant a yellow card for hooker and skipper Sean Kent. The Saints pounded away and eventually created the gap for Ashwin to touch down. Shepherd’s conversion was quickly followed by a penalty as the Hornets’ defence became increasingly stretched as the half reached a frenetic finale. An excellent switch in play by Shepherd brought Pearce into the line to allow winger Ben Chenoweth to touch down in the corner to make it 20-18. The half time whistle brought relief to the home side but the Saints undoubtedly would have wanted to play on such was their dominance at this point.

The second period was a far cagier affair with both sides cancelling each other out to create a chess like stalemate in the opening 15 minutes. On 55 minutes a penalty was run out of the Saints’ 22 only for the pass to be dropped, the scramble for the ball led to a defender being penalised for holding on, up stepped Jones to stretch the home lead. This was not the first time, nor unfortunately the last, that the opportunity to kick to touch for territory was spurned by running the penalty. The Hornets defence was far too organised and street wise to be caught napping. Shepherd brought the Saints back within 2 points when the home side again strayed offside. With 10 minutes remaining came the moment that ultimately decided the match when the Saints were awarded a penalty on halfway and elected to kick for touch. Unfortunately Shepherd’s kick was over egged and caught the Atlantic Jetstream to fly straight out ceding the initiative to the home side. The chain of possession from the resulting scrum eventually led to the flowing move to allow Cornish to complete his hat trick. Jones’ conversion meant the Saints now needed a converted try and another score to overtake their hosts. As hard as they tried the Saints could not force their way through and with time running out took the penalty shot to ensure at least a losing bonus point came back across the Tamar.

The Hornets were deserved victors on the day and the Saints know that they have to play far better than this against the top sides to have any chance of winning. The Saints could not have wished for a better game to eradicate the memories of this defeat when they travel West to take on Camborne in what is sure to be a fantastic Cornish derby.

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott; Davey; Martin; Grigg (Jeremy); Pearce (A); Howorth; Venner; Kellow; Shepherd (Captain); Murley T; Chenoweth; Welland; Wilson; Taylor; Taylor; Pearce (D)

Replacements: Winterbottom; Ashwin; Pill

St Austell:
Tries – Ashwin (33); Chenoweth (39)
Cons – Shepherd (33)
Pens – Shepherd (6, 35, 66, 76)
Drop Goal –

Hornets:
Tries – Carter (9); Cornish (16, 20, 73)
Cons – Jones (20); Letherby (73)
Pens – Jones (3, 54)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Hornets: Kent (30); Harris (74)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Hornets: None

Referee: Mr Andy Miller (Bristol Society)

Saints Man of the Match: Andy Ashwin