Match Preview

Change of tack this week as the Saints are handed a bye in the Cornwall Senior Cup along with Launceston and St Ives (keeping the big boys out of the mix until it gets interesting!).

The Cup fixtures that are going ahead this weekend are as follows:

• Wadebridge Camels v Bude
• Penryn v Pirates Amateurs
• Liskeard Looe v Truro
• Saltash v Falmouth
• Lanner v Hayle

This means Saints get a rest weekend after last week’s fantastic local derby win over neighbours Truro 31-7 and notably the 3rd win on the bounce. Hopefully this will grow before October is out.

This week the focus shifts to our Sinners. They now take on Launceston 2nd’s at Tregorrick on Pitch 1 with a 2.30pm kick off.

First of all let me tell you why the Sinners are so important to the club. I have seen a club of similar size to St Austell RFC and at the time level (5) drop their Youth section and 2nd team. Internal squabbling leading to people spitting dummies led to this sad reduction in rugby. Over a period of the following 3 years the club sank down the leagues to a record level, morale was in the pits, finances stretched to nothing and the future very much in doubt…It was a miserable place to be associated with. Luckily some people got fed up enough to step up and get things going again and in 2012 they climbed back into the national league. Moral to this is do not underestimate the importance of a 2nd or Development squad (and a Youth Section to feed it)!

The work that goes on behind the scenes to get fixtures for our second team is sadly unbelievable. So far this year Launceston 2nd’s have played 3 and had 3 cancelled. Of those 3 they played they have won them all. They pipped Crediton 2nd’s 18-8, beat Devonport Services 2nd’s 24-15 and Bodmin at Bodmin they took a more comfortable victory of 34-12. So unbeaten so far but far from the ‘smashings’ that many protagonists of 2nd teams joining ‘real’ leagues forecast and use to defend their position.

Our Sinners, now under the experienced eye of Head Coach Pete Biernis, have faced similar blockers to regular play. They managed 2 of the 3 pre-seasons then once in September they have had 5 clubs cancel on them to date. Despite this, and referring back to my previous statement of hard work behind the scenes, they have achieved 4 fixtures with the fifth being this one against Launceston. This is almost entirely down to our wonderful, resourceful and determined Fixtures Secretary Nicola Straight who on hearing of a club backing out of a fixture goes straight to work for us in finding another!

The Sinners have 4 wins under their belt to date over Camelford, Bodmin, Roseland and Helston. That in itself is great but it is what else is happening with this squad that is truly worth highlighting. I am not sure what Pete is sprinkling on their after match pasties but the Sinners are growing in numbers, stature, enthusiasm and confidence. Don’t believe me? Come and have a look on Saturday! Pete has had the ‘nice to have’ headache of 20+ players to select from each week. Of course it’s not a problem as its unlimited subs but if only more clubs around us had this follow-ship then grass roots rugby wouldn’t be in the sorry state that it often appears to be?

And they are playing an attractive brand of rugby produced by an eclectic mix of players from graduating Colts eagerly continuing to improve themselves whilst getting their skills under the gaze of Saints Head Coach Kyle Marriott, to the more experienced demographic of the team that are really enjoying their Saturdays playing the game they love. I have enjoyed watching some of the games this season and am totally heartened by their enthusiasm for their squad and the club.

So it’s a 2.30pm KO. The bar will be open from 1pm and if you follow European rugby and turn up at on time you’ll be able to watch most of the Bath v Toulouse match on the TV’s. At 3pm there is Chiefs v Munster being shown so actually a really appealing day of rugby is on offer at Tregorrick!

Yours in Rugby

Ian Grantham

Parish Notices –

Please take the time this Saturday to bring in a 100 club form already filled out or fill one out at the club and hand them over to the bar staff. Feeding funds into purely rugby activities will put us in a strong position in Cornish rugby and it will future proof us against volunteer shortages and experience black-holes. The fund that we intend to place the money in is explained HERE. The form that you can print off before hand is HERE. Please get behind this…3 cash prizes a month once we get it up and running but it needs your support!

Family Prize Bingo – Friday 9th November. Lots of prizes, lots of laughs (priceless Cornish interpretations of bingo calling available on the night) and a limited number of seats. Tickets have been printed and are being distributed to various quarters of the club. If you want some and don’t know how to get them either tap a club officer on the shoulder or email st_austellrfc@outlook.com and if there are any left we’ll reserve them for you. More details are HERE.

Cufflinks – Chris the Shop Manager has some sample cuff-links in the shop for people to look at. If you fancy some Saints cufflinks then go tell of him your interest. Once he has enough interest he will order. Details are HERE.

Pre-Match Lunches - This is a really fluid situation. It literally changes as I type these up some days! There are now only 3 pre-match lunches with any seats left and they are all in 2019. Get your names to Tich fast if you want to attend one! He’s available on sardineslayer@hotmail.co.uk. More details of where are spaces are available HERE.

Exeter Chiefs Girls Training Camp – Tuesday 23rd October – Only £15!! Great way for existing or new players to join together and learn from the Exeter Chiefs Outreach Team. If you are or know of a girl who is interested in playing rugby then please look HERE for more details on how to book.

Quilter Autumn Internationals – We are showing all the England games and any others we can on the big tellys whether Saints are at home or not.

• 3rd Nov – England v South Africa 3pm
• 10th Nov – England v New Zealand – 3pm
• 17th Nov – England v Japan – 3pm
• 24th Nov – England v Australia – 3pm

Bar open well before. Come up and grab a seat for what promises to be a cracking series of games! Rumours of prizes for guess the score/first try scorer are rife….

Finally...It Christmas soon! Got your works party sorted out? We are offering free room hire for all Xmas parties (in December). Also taking booking for other functions and training etc for throughout the year! Details are HERE.