For the second week running the losing score line was a tad harsh on the Saints who competed on equal terms for much of the game. The home side is in a period of transition with six players aged 22 or under taking to the field yesterday and it was to prove the difference against a Cleve side boosting several players with National League experience. The visitors defended excellently for long periods denying the Saints the quick ball they thrive on and they were ruthless on each occasion they reached the home 22.

The home side start brightly in glorious sunshine and with a pitchside temperature of 25C the young guns would have hoped their speed and fitness would give them an edge. Fly half Andy Ashwin stroked over an early penalty which was soon cancelled out by his counterpart Ben Roberts. The Saints dominated the opening quarter but could not find a path through Cleve’s tight defence. Frustration at the break down allowed Cleve to relieve the blockade and a second penalty put them in an attacking position in the home 22. A series of well-drilled drives were stopped short of the line but at the resulting 5m scrum Cleve were awarded a penalty try as the Saints were guilty of standing up. To rub salt into the wounds the Saints lost hooker and skipper Miles Davey to a rib injury. The Saints responded well and really should have scored after a brilliant sniping break by scrum half Sam Tank had the Cleve defence split asunder for the first time in the game. Flanker Paul Winterbottom took the ball on and with the Saints pack in full flow the ball was released quickly across the line only for a forward pass at the crucial moment. Moments later prop Hugh Noott was held up on the line and with Cleve becoming increasingly desperate in defence the Saints decided to settle for a second Andy Ashwin penalty (6-10). It was Cleve’s turn to attack as the game ebbed and flowed and the home side were grateful to a brilliant covering tackle by Konnor Ewudzi to prevent a certain try. The young winger was then penalised for entering from the side and harshly given a yellow card. Cleve turned the screw and although the Saints repelled the line out they could not prevent Neil Evans from going over from the resulting scrum (6-15). The last five minutes of the half saw the Saints hammer away at the Cleve line but the visitors defended resolutely by fair means or foul. First winger Marcus Drooker was sent to the bin and he was quickly followed by scrum half Neil Dipple leaving the home faithful screaming for a penalty try. The Bristolians held firm and reached the sanctuary of the half time dressing room 15-6 ahead.

Any hopes that the Saints could exploit their numerical advantage were soon dispelled as Cleve gave a masterclass in ball retention. The rising frustration in Saints ranks was palpable and the increasing desperation to get the ball led to a yellow card for Paul Winterbottom and 3 points for Cleve (6-18). Again Saints reacted positively with a series of high tempo phases that brought the home side within sight of the Cleve line. With an overlap beckoning and a try “probable” ex- Dings Crusaders Stean Williams dived in to kill the ball. The cries for a penalty try seemed more justified this time but the Saints had to make do with a third yellow card for a Cleve player. The resulting catch and drive floundered and Cleve survived to clear their lines. As the hour mark passed Cleve were now dictating the pace and tempo of the match and a well worked move saw Drooker evade three would-be tacklers to put the game beyond the home side (6-23). It was now the Saints who were holding on as the visitors looked to turn the screw. Cleve were rocked back when Dan Pearce intercepted a pass to outpace the retreating backline over 80m, the full back dropped kicked the conversion to give Saints hope of a losing bonus point (13-23). That was the signal for Cleve to go back into their shells and keep the ball with their powerful forwards. The winning bonus point was secured deep in time added-on when centre Sean Lilley slipped through some ragged defending to make the final score 6-30.

The Saints players were bitterly disappointed at the final whistle but Cleve showed why they are tipped by many to achieve promotion this season. The visitors delivered the perfect away performance by defending superbly; managing the tempo of the game and they kept the scoreboard ticking every time they reached the home 22. The Saints will regroup this week before heading up the line to Clevedon next Saturday (KO 3pm).

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott; Davey(Captain); Martin; Vian; Kellow; Howe; Winterbottom; Jeffs; Tank; Ashwin; Ewudzi; Welland; Freeman; Johns; Pearce (D)
Replacements: Rowe; Grigg; Pellow

St Austell:
Tries – Dan Pearce (75)
Cons – Dan Pearce (75)
Pens – Ashwin (4, 27)
Drop Goal –

Cleve:
Tries – Penalty try (19); Neil Evans (35); Marcus Drooker (65); Sean Lilley (80+5)
Cons – Ben Roberts (19, 80+5)
Pens – Ben Roberts (13, 49)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Konnor Ewudzi (32); Paul Winterbottom (48); Grigg (79)
Cleve: Neil Dipple (38); Marcus Drooker (39); Stean Williams (53)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Cleve: None

Referee: Nick Marshall (Hampshire RRS)

Saints’ Man of the Match: Rob Jeffs