The Saints had the bonus point wrapped up after 14 minutes courtesy of a blistering opening quarter that saw them score five tries. The shell shocked Somerset side deserve great credit for the way they dusted themselves down after the one sided opening to make a hugely entertaining second half watched by a lively crowd creating a festive atmosphere.
Before the game shirt sponsors Frost Builders donated £4,620, the fruits of a fantastic fund raising effort, to Cornwall Hospice Care and Little Harbour children’s hospice. This was supplemented by a further £300 donated by the players and supporters of St Austell RFC.
The kick off was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of ex-Club Captain Brian "Jigger" Lee who recently passed away. The respectful and peaceful tribute was in stark contrast to the tornedo unleashed by the Saints the moment the game got underway. The Tregorrick faithful roared with delight as the home side played with a tempo and purpose that threatened to blow Pethy away. Winger Ben Chenoweth burst down the blindside channel to open the scoring after 3 minutes of pressure (7-0). Half backs Andy Ashwin and Dan Pearce were linking well as the Saints moved the ball with thrilling alacrity to create wave upon wave of probing attacks. Last minute unavailability had forced a late reshuffle of the Saints backline but James Martin was relishing his move to inside centre. After several rumbustious sorties against the Pethy defence he found a gap to score under the posts (14-0). The Saints countered straight from the restart and full back Cavan Boyer was the eager recipient of a perfectly timed pass from lock Adam Kellow (19-0). Pethy’s beleaguered defence was breeched again on 14 minutes as James Martin scooted in to ensure the bonus point (26-0). Respite for Pethy proved short lived as the Saints moved the ball through several phases to enable James Martin to complete his hat trick with an outrageous side step (31-0). As the Saints tempo inevitably dropped Pethy started to enjoy more time with the ball and a patient build up gave winger Gavin Hancock the space to run in a well worked try (31-5). Full back Dan Pearce slotted a penalty after a promising move was brought to a halt by a Pethy offside (34-5). The visitors finished the half on top but found the Saints as miserly in defence as they were exuberant in attack.
The second half started cagily as Pethy looked to keep a rein on the dynamic running of the Saints. However they could do nothing about the next score on 50 minutes as the Saints’ forwards rampaged down the field. With seemingly every member of the pack involved in the passing it was flanker Jack Grigg who touched down (41-5). Back came Pethy and it was scrum half Ben Tracey who darted over from close range (41-12). Gavin Hancock grabbed his second try (41-19) and the Somerset side went in search of a fourth try and the bonus point that it would bring. The Saints’ Scrooge like defence held firm and when lock Adam Kellow turned over the ball he went on a lung bursting run out of the home 22. Just as his afterburners faded skipper Miles Davey was on hand to carry the charge on, before off-loading to Dan Pearce to sprint home (48-19). The Saints brought on Kyle Gallacher for his debut at prop and Peter Tuckley for his first home appearance to round off a near perfect day for the home side.
The Saints will now have a well-deserved rest over the Christmas period before heading up the M5 to Bristol to take on league leaders Cleve on Saturday 3 January 2015.
Match Stats:
St Austell: Mason-Maxwell; Davey (Captain); Martin (Mark); Kellow; Pearce (Adam);Grigg; Venner; Winterbottom; Ashwin; Pearce (Dan); Johns; Martin (James); Welland; Chenoweth;
Replacements: Jeffs; Gallacher; Tuckley
St Austell:
Tries – Ben Chenoweth (3); James Martin (8, 14, 22); Cavan Boyer Jack Grigg (50); Dan Pearce (68);
Cons – Dan Pearce (3, 8, 14, 50, 68)
Pens – Dan Pearce (30)
Drop Goal –
North Petherton:
Tries – Gavin Hancock (24, 63); Ben Tracey (53)
Cons – Harry Roberts (53, 63)
Pens –
Drop Goal –
Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Adam Kellow (52)
North Petherton: None
Red Cards:
St Austell: None
North Petherton: None
Referee: Andy Reynolds (Cornwall RRS)
Saints’ Man of the Match: Ian Venner – There were many candidates in what was the best team performance of the season to date. James Martin, Adam Kellow, Jack Grigg and Andy Ashwin were all close calls but Ian Venner just edged it with another tireless display both in defence and attack.