Both sides looked a little ring rusty but despite the higher than normal error rate there were still some good rugby on show for a large and appreciative crowd.

The visitors from Somerset held territorial advantage in the opening exchanges without ever threatening to score. The home side burst into life when scrum half Sam Tank side stepped a snoozing defence to sprint 30m before being caught just outside the Bridge 22. Flanker Jack Grigg was first to secure the ball and off load to his back row partner Paul Winterbottom who stormed through under the posts. Andy Ashwin converted to put the Saints 7-0 ahead. As Bridge tried to respond they were reduced to 14 men when second row Ali Blundell was red carded for dangerous use of the boot in a ruck. A flare up soon afterwards saw a yellow card for Jack Grigg but in truth the referee had the choice of a half dozen players from either side, thankfully the sin binning had the deserved effect of cooling frayed tempers. Bridge now enjoyed their best spell of the match when first centre Stu Heal pulled back 3 points and then winger Nick Francis finished off a fine flowing move for a converted try. With half time approaching Ashwin levelled the scores with a penalty awarded after winger Alex Welland was crudely taken out in the air.

The Saints started the second half with much more purpose with the pack starting to exert control up front. A powerful scrum in the 22 created the gap for Sam Tank to dart over for a converted try to restore the Saints’ lead (17-10). The home side continued to press and when Jack Grigg finished off a well worked move for the third try (22-10) it looked like the Saints would go on to win handsomely. The visitors had struggled to contain the Saints’ driving maul all afternoon and with one bearing down on the Bridge try line the bonus point seemed inevitable. The drive collapsed just shy of the line and as the ball was moved wide it was lost in contact, Bridge burst out of defence and moved the ball the length of the field and it was number 8 Nick Spellissy who got just reward for his lung bursting run to score. Fly half Jervis Manupenu converted (22-17) and suddenly Bridge went from looking like a beaten team to one who could win the match. A cagey last 10 minutes saw the Saints deciding to secure what they had rather than take unnecessary risks looking for the fourth try. With time up Ashwin kicked the penalty to make the final score 25-17.

Many positives and much to work on during the week before the Saints travel to Somerset next Saturday to take on Bridge’s near neighbours North Petherton.

Match Stats:
St Austell: Noott; Davey (Captain); Martin; Vian; Kellow; Grigg; Winterbottom; Jeffs; Tank; Ashwin; Pellow; Freeman; Martin (J); Welland; Pearce (D)
Replacements: Rowe; Venner; Johns
St Austell:
Tries – Winterbottom (8); Tank (55); Grigg (62)
Cons – Ashwin (8, 55)
Pens – Ashwin (39, 80+1)
Drop Goal –

Bridgewater & Albion:
Tries – Francis (26); Spellissy (70)
Cons – Heal (26) Jervis Manupenu (70)
Pens – Heal (20)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Grigg (17)
Bridgewater & Albion: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Bridgewater & Albion: Ali Blundell (15)

Referee: Zeb Bell (Devon RRS)
Saints’ Man of the Match: Jack Grigg