With only six games remaining and the title race coming to the boil, the feeling was that the outcome could be a pivotal result for the ambitions of both Clubs. A win for the visitors would see them overtake the Saints in the table, a home victory would help to nullify Lydney’s game in hand. A mouth-watering encounter was in prospect and the game proved to be a fine advert for SW1 rugby with St Austell running out deserved winners in a tense and highly physical top of the table clash. Given what was riding on the game between the two meanest defences in the league it was perhaps inevitable it would be a tight low scoring affair. While the encounter may have been low on try scoring opportunities, it more than made up for it in tension and drama. In the end the Saints kept their cool in the white heat of the contest to score a try in each half while stifling the Lydney game plan. Frustration spread amongst the visitors in the second half resulting in indiscipline that hampered their hopes of overhauling the Saints.

The Severnsiders arrived in Cornwall to cloudless blue skies and a brisk wind bringing an Easterly chill to the air. The visitors started with all the confidence of a side that has only suffered one defeat in their last ten games. The forwards were providing a stream of quick ball allowing the backs to prompt and probe the Saints defence. The home side were up to the task and although starved of ball competently kept Lydney out of the 22. On six minutes the Saints turned defence into attack to send centre Konnor Ewudzi on a searing run into the Lydney half. The visitors scrambling cover strayed offside enabling the Saints to kick a penalty deep into the Lydney 22. The lineout catch and drive rumbled forward and from a series of pick and go drives Miles Davey was almost over only to have the ball dislodged as he neared the whitewash. Lydney’s exit from the resulting 5m scrum gave them some respite, but Saints now had a firm foothold in the red zone. The pressure was mounting, and it was a thundering maul that saw the Gorran Lighthouse, Mark Vian pirouette off to touch down (5-0). The Saints were now enjoying territorial ascendency against a robust Lydney defence. Another sublime break from Konnor Ewudzi saw him fire through a gap with full back Cavan Boyer in support, the pass out to winger Fraser Nottle just failed to go to hand with the try line beckoning. Lydney survived and started to build momentum of their own in the home half, and it was the Saints turn to cough up the penalties when under pressure. Lydney set nerves jangling amongst the Tregorrick faithful as they threatened the Saints try line, but the Cornish defence held firm forcing a penalty for holding on, to exit to the 22m line. A Saints overthrow at the resulting line out created panic in the midfield and Lydney fly half Tony Wicks stroked over the penalty given for offside (5-3). With both sides knowing how important the next score would be the contest became locked into a cagey game of highly physical chess played out between the 40m lines. The Saints lost two back row forwards to injury with Rory Jago taking a stray knee in the back and flying flanker Cam Taylor twisting his knee. The reshuffling of the pack saw Hugh Noott into the front row and youngster Brandon Haque moving to the back row where he was joined by Andy Inch. Lydney took advantage of the disruption to put the Saints defence under real scrutiny for the reminder of the half. The home side held firm without any major try line drama but were nonetheless pleased to hear the whistle and the sanctuary of the interval to take stock.

Having decided to return to the changing rooms for half time, Lydney attempted to engage in some kidology by returning late to the field leaving their hosts kicking their heels for several minutes. The ploy served only to galvanise the home team and crowd with the Saints pushing the Lydney eight backwards to force a scrum penalty. Tempers flared at the resulting lineout which thankfully saw order restored before getting too far out of hand. Saints fly-half Matt Shepherd coolly slotted the penalty to nudge the home 8-3 in front. The Saints sensed an opportunity to gain further breathing space as the visitors started to give a string of penalties, but the tables were almost turned. A ball lost in contact in the Lydney 22 saw the visitors launch a terrific counterattack with winger Brad Dunn leaving a trail of Saints in his Jetstream. Cav Boyer’s crucial tackle stopped his progress and with the Lydney flyer outpacing his own support he was isolated and penalised for holding on. The let off seem to stir the Saints to greater efforts a deft kick ahead by Matt Shepherd looks to have set Fraser Nottle on his way but he had just strayed ahead of the kicker. Frustrations amongst the Lydney team were becoming more obvious and it was no surprise when a yellow card was shown to centre Joe McLean on the hour mark. Great work by the forwards provided the platform for Matt Shepherd to feed Cavan Boyer who showed steely determination to force his way over for a crucial try (13-3). A rush of blood from Lydney full back Alex Nelmes saw him sent off for a needless head butt on the prone try scorer. With the luxury of ten points of breathing space the Saints could play low risk rugby as they looked to manage the game and see out the final quarter. As the clock ticked down Lydney’s hopes of gaining a losing bonus point were boosted when Saints talisman Matt Shepherd was shown yellow for a seatbelt tackle. The visitors built up a head of steam and in the final minute prop Harrison Fowke burst over for a try. Scrum half Sam Arnott quickly drop kicked the conversion to ensure there was time for one last play. At 13-10 there were flashbacks to the last home game when Sidmouth snatched victory deep into stoppage but there was to be no repeat of that nightmare. Number eight Kyle Marriott safely cradled the restart and a series of drives put the Saints on the front foot. A desperate Lydney hand in the ruck gave the home side the penalty they craved and it was Cavan Boyer who brought the game to an end deep into time added on with a well struck kick to make it 16-10.

The Saints were deserved winners in a tough and uncompromising encounter. The home side kept their discipline in the face of physical opponents and took their chances when they appeared. They overcame the loss of their two flankers and showed good game management in key phases of the contest. There are now five games remaining including three at home against all the teams at the top. These will be as tough as Lydney but at least it is in our own hands and that is all you can ask for in the final sprint for the line.

Saints Star Man: Cavan Boyer – A great team performance with outstanding performances from Dan Job, Tony Knight, Kyle Marriott, Matt Shepherd and Konnor Ewudzi. Just shading it was full back Cavan Boyer who provided both a crucial last line of defence and a cutting edge in attack.

1 Dan Job; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Brandon Haque; 4 Mark Vian; 5 Tony Knight; 6 Rory Jago; 7 Cam Taylor; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 CJ Boyce; 10 Matt Shepherd; 11 Alex Welland; 12 Ben Plummer 13 Konnor Ewudzi; 14 Fraser Nottle; 15 Cavan Boyer
Reps (All used):
Andy Inch; Archie Bees; Hugh Noott

St Austell:
Tries – Mark Vian (13); Cavan Boyer (62)
Cons –
Pens – Matt Shepherd (46); Cavan Boyer (80+4)
Drop Goal –

Lydney:
Tries – Unknown (79)
Cons – Sam Arnott (79)
Pens – Tony Wicks (25)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Matt Shepherd (76)
Lydney: Joe McClean (60); Joe Hamlin (78)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Lydney: Alex Nelms (62)

Referee: Ian Morgan (CRRS)