Sticking to the recipe of recent years it was always going to be a tense affair as recent Cup encounters between the 2 teams have never had a large winning margin but remained full of entertainment.
A respectful Tregorrick crowd of some 700 supporters honoured a minute’s silence which was further enhanced by “the last post”. The referee then got events underway with Saints receiving, there was almost an immediate opportunity for a two versus one scoring chance for the home side however good defence forced play into touch, the Camels then forcing the home side to defend for the opening ten minutes. It took a break in play after a blood injury to the Camels 14 Dan Briskham for the Saints to recoup and the next phase of play at 13 minutes offered a penalty which Saints Full Back Dan Pearce expertly converted.
Both sides were testing each other off of the breakdown and on 17 minutes St Austell’s No8 Adam Kellow was penalised for a high tackle and subsequently yellow carded. The referee played good advantage allowing both sides to make opportunity of the others mistakes and the Saints made good of this with a well worked try for Darren Pellow converted by Pearce on 21 minutes. A poor restart witnessed the Camels return the favour, good angles of running breaking tackles for Back Row Mark Grubb to score under the posts an easy conversion for fly-half Danny Thomas. Replacements were now entering the field for both sides fresh legs making an immediate impact a well taken line out in the Camels 22 allowing the play to sweep across the field and Callum Wilson split the defence and score a clinical try for the home side Pearce again did the honours with the conversion. By this stage it seemed to be all Saints, the Camels withstanding wave after wave of attacks but the score that broke the Camels back was a cheeky Drop Goal from Saints fly half Liam Freeman. Half time 20-7.

The visitor started brightly stringing good phases of play together but over complication allowed St Austell to turn over play and the move of the match from an attacking line out saw the ball pass through 11 pairs of hands for Winger Ben Chenoweth to scream in at the corner, the conversion missed and then again from the restart the Camels piled on the pressure St Austell’s first up tackling was giving ground to the visitors this end to end pattern paid off when Camels Full Back Will Pengelly crossed the line and Danny Thomas again added the extras. More changes were made on the hour and Ryan Knott made an immediate impact in the front row, a catch and drive from the Camels 22 saw the Saints pack drive through the Wadebridge lines crossing the goal at nearly a collective sprint, the try awarded leaving the Saints 2 converted tries clear 63 minutes gone the score at 30-14. At this point you’d like to think you are safe, however the visitors encamped themselves in the Home 22 and the Saints held out until the 79th minute when Camels No8 Gary Gynn forced his way over and Danny Thomas completed his afternoons work with another neat conversion. There was just enough time for the restart before Mr Milliner (who refereed well) ended the contest.
Next Saturday at Tregorrick, South West One league action St Austell vs Wells Kick Off 2-30pm

St Austell

Peter Rowe, Miles Davy capt, Mark Martin, Mark Vian, Rob Jeffs, Paul Winterbottom, Ian Venner, Adam Kellow, Andy Ashwin, Liam Freeman, Darren Pellow, Callum Wilson, Alex Welland, Ben Chenoweth, Dan Pearce.

Replacements all used Jack Grigg 28’, Konnor Ewudski 28’, Ryan Knott 60’, Andrew Inch 75’.

Tries Pellow 21, Wilson 31, Chenoweth 46, Jeffs 63

Cons Pearce 22, 32

Pens Pearce 13

Drop Goal Freeman 39
Yellow Card Kellow 17

Pens for 11 Pens Against 13

Wadebridge Camels

Richard Treleaven, Matt Ballard, Ian Burnard, Dan Limb capt, Jack Scott, Richard Dawe, Mark Grubb, Gary Gynn, Chris Humphreys, Danny Thomas, Dom Hawkey, James Grubb, Cam Lees, Dan Briskham, Will Pengelly
Replacements all used Mark kempthorne, Matt Tarby, Christian Cotton, Sean Johns

Tries Grubb 23’, Pengelly 55’, Gynn 78’.

Cons Thomas 24’, 56’, 79’.

Saints Man of the Match - Liam Freeman: Provided a smooth link between forwards abd backs in an assured and confident display topped off with an important drop goal just on half time.