The Saints never found their usual fluency and rhythm so consequently were unable to impose themselves on the visitors. The lack of tempo coupled with poor execution from the home side inevitably led to a succession of handling errors and turnovers. Many sages observed that the Saints turned over possession more times in this encounter than in the previous 10 league games this season put together. While the Saints were never in any real danger of losing the tie, their failure to put clear water between the scores meant the large Tregorrick crowd could never fully relax.

The Saints started brightly enough and an early Matt Shepherd penalty was quickly followed by a typically rumbustious try from prop Usain Noott. Shepherd’s conversion put the Saints 10-0 up with less than 15 minutes gone but the home side failed to build on the good start. The game fell into a messy phase with a catalogue of errors leading to a succession of scrums. Tempers flared briefly on the half hour and Saints flanker Ian Venner was shown yellow for his harsh explanation of the offside rule to Truro lock Ross Denning. The home side were punished for some lacklustre passing across the backline in the Truro 22 which was intercepted by Carl Ranscombe. The Truro centre scorched away and although forced wide by the chasing Saints he still managed to touch down in the corner to the delight of his team mates. Saints finally woke from their slumbers and finished the half strongly. Truro number 8 Adam Gayton was sent to the bin for curtailing a Saints attack with a high tackle. Shepherd’s decision to run the penalty paid dividends when the ball was worked wide to allow full back Dan Pearce to fly in at the corner. The half time whistle followed the missed conversion with the Saints 15-5 ahead.

The second half opened with a flurry of scores, first Truro full back Tom Hatfield reduced the deficit with a penalty following an infringement at the restart. The Saints responded immediately with the pack creating some good forward momentum to penetrate the Truro defence. Hooker Miles Davey spotted a gap and darted through to dash 20m to score under the posts. Shepherd’s conversion put the Saints 22-8 ahead and that really should have been the signal for the home side to put the game beyond Truro. Instead confusion reigned again at the restart and Ranscombe picked off another careless pass to score his second try with a slightly easier 30m sprint, converted by Hatfield. After all the early excitement the game degenerated into another error strewn phase with neither side able to sustain any real quality possession for long enough to build a meaningful attack. That changed on the hour mark when the Saints forwards produced a series of searing rucks that eventually created space for Shepherd. The Saints’ skipper still had much to do but used his decoy runners well to dummy the Truro defence and touchdown in the corner. Again the home side were guilty of not finishing the contest off and allowed Truro back into the game. A line out was turned into a 13 man driving maul that crashed over the home try line in a pile of bodies. The try was credited to prop Jamie Moore and Hadfield’s conversion closed the gap to just 5 points with 10 minutes to go. Truro hopes of a cup shock were soon dashed when more Saints forward power allowed Shepherd to score a converted try. The Saints appeared to want to end their bad day at the office early and switched off completely. There was still time for Truro lock Denning to be shown a yellow card for persistently infringing and winger Luke Tidball to score in the last minute to give the visitors some consolation.

The Saints’ players were hugely disappointed at their performance but to play badly and still beat spirited opponents is as the cliché goes the “mark of a good side”. The Saints will now face Saltash in a home semi-final on Saturday 22 February 2014; Camborne play Penryn in the other remaining cup tie. Thoughts will now focus on the league and the top of the table clash when unbeaten Cleve roll into Tregorrick next week. The Bristol side have won all 10 of their games so far and match the Saints as the league’s highest scorers with 335 points apiece. This will be Cleve’s first away game against a top half side so it promises to be a magnificent spectacle (KO 2:30pm, Tregorrick).

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott; Davey; Martin; Howorth; Kellow; Winterbottom; Venner; Jeffs; Ashwin; Shepherd (Captain); Chenoweth; Welland; Pellow; Tank; Pearce (D)

Replacements: Rowe; Murley T; Vian; Wilson

St Austell:
Tries – Usain Noott (15); Dan Pearce (37); Miles Davey (45); Matt Shepherd (62,72);
Cons – Matt Shepherd (15, 45, 72)
Pens – Matt Shepherd (3)
Drop Goal –

Truro:

Tries – Carl Ranscombe (31, 46); Jamie Moore (68); Luke Tidball (79)
Cons – Tom Hatfield (46, 68)
Pens – Tom Hatfield (41)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Ian Venner (32)
Truro: Adam Gayton (35) Ross Denning (77)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Truro: None

Referee: Darren Currie (Cornwall RRS)

Saints Man of the Match: Miles Davey