1st XV 'Saints'
Matches
Sat 10 Nov 2012
St Austell RFC
1st XV 'Saints'
Tries: T Murley, S Haley, S TankConversions: M ShepherdPenalties: M ShepherdDrop Goals: A Ashwin
23
26
Wadebridge Camels
St Austell 23 Wadebridge Camels 26

St Austell 23 Wadebridge Camels 26

Paul Hayes12 Nov 2012 - 10:56
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Cup Heatbreak for Saints

St Austell suffered cup heartbreak again at the hands of Wadebridge Camels going down by a three point margin for the second time in 7 months. The Saints lost the County Cup Final 20-17 in April, and just like that encounter Saturday’s quarter final was decided by the tightest of margins. The Tribute County Cup Final has become a devalued competition in some eyes with Truro and Newquay Hornets becoming the latest teams to concede games with late cry-offs. However to the delight of a packed Tregorrick Park these two sides served up a veritable feast of cup rugby in a pulsating Cornish derby. The CRFU would have been delighted to see the intensity, physicality and skill on display with two full strength sides going all out to win. A gripping game between two evenly matched teams ensured the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle. In the end Camels higher league experience and better discipline around the contact area enabled them to squeak passed the Saints and into the semi-finals.

After an impeccably observed two minute silence in Remembrance of the Fallen, the Camels kicked off and immediately put the home side under pressure. Having lost talisman James Earp to injury in the warm-up the Saints were still adjusting to some late changes in the backline enabling the visitors to make deep inroads into the 22. A clever front of lineout routine caught the Saints napping and hooker Matt Ballard burst through for an unconverted try with less than two minutes on the clock. The home side responded well and exerted sustained pressure on the Camels line with the back row trio of Paul Winterbottom, Rob Jeffs and Steve Howarth prominent. With more and more defenders being sucked in the ball was quickly spun away for centre Treve Murley to dive in under the posts, Matt Shepherd converted. Camels were back in front in double quick time with a James Grubb penalty and then enjoyed a period of ascendency although it has to be said the Saints were the architects of their own downfall. Winger Alex Welland was harshly adjudged to have high tackled much to the consternation of the home crowd. Grubb’s kick to touch set up the platform for the line out that saw Camels’ skipper Sam Stone peel away from the maul to crash over for an unconverted try. Minutes later a loose box kick was gathered by number eight Gary Gynn whose offload to flying winger Dom Hawkey allowed him to scorch through the Saints defence. Grubb made no mistake with the conversion this time to push the Camels 20-7 ahead. Any fears that this was the end of the Saints were quickly dispelled as the home again laid siege in the Camels 22. The visitors defence was holding up well so it needed a wonderful a sleight of hand pass from the Saints’ inspirational skipper Andy Ashwin to galloping lock Sean Haley who crashed over for an unconverted try. The Camels were now struggling to contain the fast moving Saints and Shepherd looked to have scored with a sublime chip and chase only for a 5m scrum to be awarded by the unsighted referee. The pressure was telling and only a Camels’ offside prevented a pass with an overlap beckoning. A long lecture to skipper Stone followed but the cards remained in the pocket to the dismay of the home crowd; however Shepherd’s penalty ensured a breathless half closed with the game in the balance at 20-15.

Saints started the second half with the same tempo they finished the first. Haley’s steal of Camels’ lineout ball provided Ashwin with the space to strike a superb drop goal. The visitors cleverly changed tactics and reverted to slowing the pace of the game down using their big pack to rumble the ball forward. Starved of ball the Saints’ eagerness to regain possession was leading to a succession of penalties. Grubb dispatched two excellent shots at goal to create some breathing space in an absorbing contest. Saints finally struck out again when Welland, who had been a threat all afternoon, broke a tackle and struck deep into Camels’ territory. Quickly recycled ball gave Ashwin a pocket to spin a beautiful miss pass to full back Sam Tank who scored in the corner. Saints were now on top and starting to dominate the scrums but the Camels’ outside defence was holding firm. With five minutes to go the Saints’ eight put the visitors’ pack under huge pressure on their own scrum. The ball was thrown haphazardly out and caught by Hawkey with both hands above his head. The Saints’ first up runners bearing down on the winger but showing great presence of mind and no little skill he jinked, weaved and then accelerated out of danger. His 20m pressure relieving run was as much a match winner and as the one for his try as it allowed the Camels to retain possession and run the clock down. The ball was eventually kicked dead to the relief of the Camels’ supporters and a pulsating game ended 26-23 to the visitors.

There was a time when St Austell would have been content with the label of plucky losers, but not anymore. The Saints went into the Final in April as underdogs; but they came out of this second encounter as equals. The game was decided on tight margins and more discipline in the contact area, a little more calmness in execution and even a little luck with some of the marginal decisions could have led to a different outcome. Unfortunately the 15-8 penalty count in Camels’ favour provided the visitors’ with either valuable points or the chance to ease pressure at key points in the game. However, the Saints have locked horns with a team riding high in South West One and now know they are ready for the step up. There are 16 league games remaining to turn that ambition into a reality, and it starts again next Saturday at Bude (Kick Off 2:30).

Match Stats:

St Austell: Rowe; Grigg; Martin; Pearce; Haley; Jeffs; Winterbottom; Howarth; Shepherd; Ashwin (Captain); Taylor; Murley; Venner; Welland; Tank

Replacements: Hughes; Colvin-Stunell; McCoan; Vian

St Austell:
Tries – Murley (8); Haley (29); Tank (64)
Cons – Shepherd (1)
Pens – Shepherd (1)
Drop Goal – Ashwin

Wadebridge Camels:
Tries – Ballard (2); Stone (15); Hawkey (21)
Cons – Grubb (1)
Pens – Grubb (3)

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Wadebridge Camels: None

Red Cards St Austell: None Wadebridge Camels: None
Referee: Mr Simon Lord (Cornwall RRS)
Saints Man of the Match: Andy Ashwin

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Nov 2012

Kickoff

14:30

Meet time

13:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit & Matchday Sponsor - Sharps Molson Coors
Player Sponsor - Coastal Building and Joinery LTD
Player Sponsor - River Valley Holiday Park
Player Sponsor - Chris Powley Electrical Services
Player Sponsor - Davey Digger Hire
Player and programme Sponsor - The Hewas Inn
Player Sponsor - Duke of Cornwall Supporters Club
Player Sponsor - Rebellion Roast House & Moonshine Bar
Player Sponsor - The Polgooth Inn
Player Sponsors - Paul & Jan Hayes
Player Sponsor - JAWS
Player Sponsor - P.C.Tonkin & Son
After Match Shirts / Player  - Adam Kellow Plastering
Player Sponsor - D Nottle Scaffolding
Pitchside/Programme/Matchday Sponsor - River Valley Garage
Kit Sponsor - Build Cornwall
Senior Kit Sponsor  - D Nottle Scaffolding
Kit Sponsors - Cornwall Mortgages
Player Sponsor - Duke of Cornwall Pub
Player Sponsor - Top Notch Joinery
Senior Shirt Sponsor & Pitch side Board Sponsor - Gripsure UK
Player & Kit Sponsor - The Par Inn
Senior Shorts Sponsor - CraneTec
Kit Partner - Samurai
Shirt Sponsor - Build Cornwall
Senior Shirt Sponsor - Cornwall Mortgages
Senior Kit Sponsor - Noott Marine