Saints 16 - 10 Exeter Saracens

Saints did themselves and the other promotion candidates a favour by inflicting only the 2nd league defeat of the season on Exeter Saracens, at a wind swept and rain lashed Tregorrick Park. Playing with the elements behind them in the first half Saints took the game to the visitors and controlled the ball well with fly half Andy Ashwin and winger Tate Richardson both using the wind well to pin their opponents
in their own 22. However, St Austell failed to take advantage of their field positions and Exeter Saracens made them pay after 15 minutes when a break out of defence was followed by a good kick and chase and when the ball went loose winger Darren Light was first to pounce for the touchdown and the home team were 5-0 down.

Saints knew this score was against the run of play and didn't panic but probed away at the Saracens defence and finally they found a way through, first the back row of Rob Jeffs, Adam Kellow and Jack Grigg combined at the base of a scrum to send young scrum half Matt Shepherd racing over the line from 20 yards to even the scores and minutes later on an awful day for kicking fly half Ashwin stroked over a penalty to give Saints an 8-5 half time lead.

Most of the spectators wondered if a 3 point lead with the elements against in the second half would be enough but Saints upped their effort and treated the crowd to a rousing second half performance with the pack charging and pressurising the visitors at every opportunity and the backs were rock solid in defence.

Saints dominated territory to such an extent that even with the wind behind them Exeter Saracens were only in the home 22 on a handful of occasions in the second half. St Austell increased their lead after only 5 minutes of the second half , again from a scrum this time scrum half Shepherd broke and fed skipper Kellow who was unstoppable from five yards out to put Saints 13-5 up.

Saints were starting to take control but on a few occasions when attacking sloppy kicking would cost them 40 or 50 yards and they would have to start all over again. On the hour Saracens showed why before the game they were lying second in the league, when from a sweeping backs move started on half way no 8 Rob Hutton up in support took the final pass to score in the corner for 13-10. With 20 minutes still to go Saints kept hold of the ball and drove well in the forwards with hooker Joe Hughes leading from the front and when Exeter Saracens were penalised for not releasing, up stepped Ashwin to pop over the penalty for 16-10.

The visitors tried to rally but Saints were having none of it and easily held on for a well fought victory. Next Saturday Saints are home to unbeaten league leaders Wellington with a 2.30pm kick off.