Season ends in defeat for Saints

The Saints beat Devonport Services in March to put them in the box seat for the play-off position but a mounting injury list that has worsened week on week has seen them fall off the pace in the home straight. The Cornishmen travelled to Blackmore shorn of several of their key early season performers more in hope than expectation. The cobbled together a team included two forwards in the backline, players playing out of position, new combinations and several making their first starts of the season. Sidmouth’s pacey backline ruthlessly exposed the lack of cohesion and familiarity in the visitors’ ranks to score some stunning tries. The Saints to their credit showed great heart throughout as they stuck doggedly to their tasks, but they had no answers once the home side spread the ball wide to their jet-propelled wingers.

The Saints found themselves 17-0 after just ten minutes after a first minute penalty was followed by two converted tries. The visitors responded well forcing Sidmouth to clock up four penalties in quick succession as the pack applied the pressure in the home 22. Paul Winterbottom, pressed ganged into his first Saints’ start for three seasons, showed all his renowned skill and strength if lacking the pace and endurance of old, dobbed down to complete a well marshalled pushover try (17-7). Sidmouth hit back with another free-flowing move that stretched the Saints’ defence to snapping point (22-7). Paul Winterbottom gathered his own chip kick to feed George Knowles, the number eight playing in an unfamiliar role of centre, powered his way to the try line (22-14). The Saints’ inability to contain the Sidmouth backline was exposed again (27-14) before a long-distance Chris Ashwin kick from just inside the halfway line gave the visitors a glimmer of hope at halftime (27-17).
The injury jink continued to blight the Saints and the loss of Mark Vian with a dislocated shoulder meant they no longer had a specialist line out jumper. Four tries in the opening 13 minutes of the half snuffed out any notions of a come back as the scoreboard started to take on an ominous look (53-17). The Saints rallied hard to put the home side on the back foot for a sustained period. Sidmouth defended well to repel all the Saints’ attempts and then scored two well executed long range counter attacks in the final minutes to add a final gloss to the full time score (67-17).

It was an ignominious end to a season that had promised so much but when the dust settles the Saints can look back with pride on their third-placed position. It was a disappointing way to end Steve Murley’s tenure as Director of Rugby, luckily the man in charge was not present due to a long-standing family commitment. However, one heavy defeat in challenging circumstances does not tell the story of the last eight years. The “Murley era” will be remembered for three promotions; four County Cup finals; SW Intermediate Champions and of course winning the Club’s first ever Cornwall Cup. All this was achieved by nurturing local talent through the Club’s Youth Section and there is no doubt St Austell RFC are now built on firm foundations with a bright future. That future will start with player-coach Kyle Marriott taking charge over the close season aiming to keep the Saints moving onwards and upwards.

St Austell
1 Charlie Nicholson; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Max Goudge; 7 Ian Venner; 8 Paul Winterbottom; 9 CJ Boyce; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 George Knowles 13 Shane Johns; 14 Jack Nelson; 15 Cavan Boyer

Reps (All used):
Mike Shakespear; Josh Phillips; Adam Pearce

St Austell:
Tries –Paul Winterbottom (23); George Knowles (30)
Cons – Chris Ashwin (23, 30)
Pens – Chris Ashwin (39)
Drop Goal –

Sidmouth
Tries – 5; 10; 26; 32; 44; 46; 50; 53; 73; 79
Cons – 5; 10; 44; 46; 50; 73; 79
Pens – 1
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr B Street (Devon RRS)