The gale force wind and driving rain seemed heaven sent for Camborne’s forward orientated game, so the absence through injury of talisman lock Adam Kellow was already a cross to bear. The Saints’ second row powerhouse was further depleted when Adam Pearce went down in the warm-up with a back injury. Flanker Jordan Duke was pressed into the second row of the scrum forcing the Saints to start the game with just two replacements. A call was put out to farmer Mark Vian who made a mad dash from Gorran to arrive just on half time. Despite these setbacks the visitors ran the home side close and nearly stole the day in a frenetic finale. The game was decided on a moment of frustration that led to a second yellow card for Alex Welland. The inevitable red card that followed was made worst when David Mankee’s monstrous penalty kick flew over from the halfway line to restore the home side’s lead. It was the fly half’s second long range effort and despite valiant efforts from the Saints right up to the final whistle it sealed the victory for Town.

The Saints got off to a calamitous start, the kick off failed to go the full 10m allowing the home side to build pressure deep in the Saints’ 22. Camborne set up a series of power driving mauls which the visitors only just managed to keep out but with so many defenders sucked in the gaps were appearing out wide. The ball was moved to Mankee who gleefully dived over for the opening try; his conversion made it 7-0 with just 4 minutes gone. The Saints showed that when they moved the ball they could trouble the home side and an offside offence was swiftly punished by scrum half Andy Ashwin (7-3). The Town built up another head of steam in the Saints 22 and the visitors’ task was made harder when centre Alex Welland was sent to the sin bin. Town immediately set up a catch and drive and it was lock Ashley Lawton who crashed over (12-3). The Saints responded well to the set back and started to probe down the Town flanks. Two promising moves came to halt due to handling errors in the atrocious conditions but the visitors were not to be denied when they delivered a fine catch and drive of their own. Number 8 Paul Winterbottom peeled off to score with Andy Ashwin adding the extras (12-10). The Saints had an opportunity to take the lead right on half time but Andy Ashwin just edged the wrong side of the posts.

Camborne now playing down the slope laid siege for the opening 15 minutes of the second half. The Saints defended magnificently repelling a series of driving mauls as the home side threw everything into attack. Despite losing Paul Winterbottom to a yellow card the Saints line remained intact until Mankee slotted over a 45m penalty on 58 minutes (15-10). As the game entered the final quarter the visitors were now getting on top of their visibly tiring hosts. The Saints’ lightweight pack had edged the scrum set piece throughout but they were now were enjoying growing ascendency at the breakdown and Mark Vian’s arrival increased the options in the lineout. The higher tempo phases created the space for a well worked move that saw Alex Welland scythe in on the angle to tie the scores. Andy Ashwin’s conversion put the Saints 17-15 ahead but the elation was short lived. Straight from the kick off Camborne knocked on but a clash between Taron Peacock and Alex Welland led to a second yellow for the Saints’ centre. The smirk on the Town’s scrum half face as the inescapable red card was produced pointed that his role in the incident was perhaps far from saintly. Mankee lined up the penalty kick on the halfway and produced a kick of gigantic proportions to clear the uprights and restore the home (18-17). The Saints pounded away against a determined Town defence searching for an opportunity to steal the game. The moment came on 78 minutes when a well worked move almost put hooker Miles Davey in under the posts. The pass was just a little too firm and although skipper and ball landed behind the line they were not together and the chance was gone.

A tight game decided on fine margins that could have gone either way and both sets of players deserve great credit for putting on a compelling contest in atrocious conditions. The Saints can take pride from the performance but they will rue the fact they played 31 of the 80 minutes with 14 men. Whilst there was no issue with the card decisions made, there was a feeling in the Saints’ camp that Town were lucky themselves to survive the final quarter with all 15 men. Next week the Saints face another difficult trip when they travel to Somerset in what could be a season defining clash with Wells RFC.

Match Stats:

St Austell:

1 Hugh Noott; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Rob Jeffs; 5 Jordan Duke; 6 Jack Grigg; 7 Ian Venner; 8 Paul Winterbottom; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Dan Pearce; 11 James Martin; 12 Callum Wilson; 13 Alex Welland; 14 Ben Chenoweth; 15 Darren Pellow
Reps:
Mark Vian; Peter Rowe; Liam Freeman

St Austell:
Tries – Paul Winterbottom (27); Alex Welland (66);
Cons – Andy Ashwin (27, 66)
Pens – Andy Ashwin (11)
Drop Goal –

Camborne:
Tries – David Mankee (4); Ashley Lawton (17)
Cons – David Mankee (4)
Pens – David Mankee (58, 70)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Alex Welland (12); Paul Winterbottom
Camborne: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: Alex Welland (69)
Camborne: None

Referee: Mr A Wookey (Dorset & Wilts RRS)

Saints’ Man of the Match: Mark Martin – Magnificent display as the cornerstone of the Saints’ pack; Choppy ensured that the Saints eight had the measure of the heavier Camborne pack in the set piece and was integral to the efforts of nullifying the Town catch and drive after a difficult opening quarter.