It’s Jam First as Saints win the Tamar battle!

It was a pulsating encounter in front of a packed Tregorrick that underlined why these are the best two Level Six teams in the Peninsula. Both sides gave their all and enjoyed periods of dominance and pressure in game that a large appreciative crowd could not take their eyes off. It was the Saints’ cast-iron defence and ability to attack from deep that ultimately made the difference in the end.

On an unseasonably warm but overcast day there were two late changes to the Saints line-up with Cornwall U20 hooker Pete Harris coming in for the highly experienced Miles Davey (shoulder). Konnor Ewudzi came in at centre for Ben Plummer who broke a finger in his mid-week appearance for the Exeter Chiefs U23s Outreach team that beat the Royal Navy U23s at Sandy Park. it was Crediton that went on the early offensive in a frenetic opening to the match. The Saints held firm and from a turnover on the 22m they launched a glorious counterattack through Konnor Ewudzi who made a trailblazing 60m run to glide through the visitors’ defence to go under the posts at the Gym end to score a sumptuous solo try (7-0). The Saints were forced into an early change with Fraser Nottle having to leave the field with a leg muscle injury to be replaced by Cavan Boyer. Crediton almost made an immediate riposte with a spectacular break of their own when scrum-half Edward Brady scooped up loose ball from a ruck to dash through a gap. Home full-back Max Bullen saved the day with a laser-sighted last-ditch tackle on the 22. The Saints were pinged for holding-on in the ensuring scramble, but three points were better than seven as fly-half Ollie Avery-Wright kicked Crediton’s first points of the day (7-3). The Saints started to build some pressure and Crediton’s did well to hold Sam Parsons up on the line. The centre showed all his skill and experience to present the ball back and quick hands from CJ Boyce got the pass away to his half-back partner Matt Shepherd who sliced across the grain for the second try (14-3). Crediton’s efforts to make an instantaneous reaction to the setback were thwarted as pressure from the Saints defence forced an error. Live-wire Dan Tyrrell seized the opportunity to launch a counter attack and slip the ball to opposite wing-man Cav Boyer. A kick ahead saw a foot race to the red zone which Crediton just about won but in taking the ball over the line they set-up a 5m scrum. An attempted pushover by the home pack was stalled on the line but the pressure was mounting and two rucks later prop Dan Job crashed over (21-3). The Saints defence again held firm under some intense pressure and it was the home side that finished the half on top. The normally slick lineout “catch and drive” uncharacteristically malfunctioned on two occasions to deny the Saints a fourth try before the break.

The Saints had to make another change during the interval with flanker Hector Bright suffering from a back injury withdrawn to be replaced by another young prospect in Cornwall U20 Joe Maunder. If there were any thoughts that the home side’s hard won first half lead was going to be enough they were quickly dispelled. Crediton made a high tempo start to the second half to stretch the Saints first right and then left to score an excellently worked try with winger Josh Woodland diving over in the far Farm-end corner (21-8). Crediton were perhaps guilty of being overzealous in trying to regain the ball, straying offside they presented Matt Shepherd with a straightforward three pointer (24-8). Try as they might, Crediton could not find the key to unlock the Saints defence and were struggling to contain the pace and ferocity of the counterattacks. Frustration levels were raising in the visitors’ ranks as they start to give away a string of penalties and the inevitable Yellow Card was eventually issued to flanker Ben Wonnacott, with Matt Shepherd adding another penalty (27-8). Saints brought on their third Cornwall U20 with Matt Boothby taking his place in the front row to give Charlie Nicholson a well-earned rest. A scrum surge from the Saints put Crediton on the back foot to provide the platform for Konnor Ewudzi to tear through a now out of position defence to go under the posts. Matt Shepherd crowned the bonus point try with a conversion to maintain his 100% kicking record for the second week running (34-8). Crediton showed great mettle to grab a deserved consolation in the dying embers of the game to make the final score 34-15.

The win puts the Saints top just two points ahead of Crediton with halfway point of the league approaching in the next round of matches. They were given a tough examination by Credition, and the Saints will be mightily relieved they have a free Saturday next week to allow some time tired and bruised bodies to rest. There is still a lot of rugby to be played in the second half of the season and there undoubtedly will be more twist and turns. Next up for the Saints is a trip to Devon in two weeks’ time when their table topple credentials will be tested by Newton Abbott (Saturday 26th November 2022, kick-off at 2:30pm)

Saints Star Man: Konnor Ewudzi –An outstanding display from the Saints that required the full 18-man squad to get the result. There were some notable individual performances amongst the team effort, young hooker Pete Harris, mini-dynamo Dan Tyrrell, full-back Max Bullen, centre Sam Parsons and props Dan Job and Charlie Nicholson can all be particularly pleased with their endeavours on the day. With two superbly taken tries and a portfolio of diligent tackling in defence Konnor takes nod for Star Man on a day when it was ultimately all about the team.

Saints
1 Dan Job; 2 Pete Harris; 3 Charlie Nicholson; 4 Mark Vian (Capt.); 5 Tony Knight; 6 Rob Jeffs; 7 Hector Bright; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 CJ Boyce; 10 Matt Shepherd; 11 Dan Tyrrell; 12 Konnor Ewudzi 13 Sam Parsons; 14 Fraser Nottle; 15 Max Bullen

Reps (All used):
Cavan Boyer; Joe Maunder; Matt Boothby

St Austell:
Tries – Konnor Ewudzi (6, 65); Matt Shepherd (18); Dan Job (25)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (7; 19, 26, 66)
Pens – Matt Shepherd (44, 61)
Drop Goal –

Crediton:
Tries – Josh Woodland (41); Lance Palmer (78)
Cons – Ollie Avery-Wright (79)
Pens – Ollie Avery-Wright (10)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Matt Shepherd (80)
Crediton: Ben Wonnacott (60)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Crediton: None

Referee: Chris Hoadley Somerset RRS

The Sinners seven match unbeaten run game to an end in a tight encounter against Redruth IIs that could have gone either way. It was nip and tuck throughout with the Sinners ahead 10-8 at the interval with tries from Tom Daniel after a driving maul and full back Toby Hodson. The home side rallied impressively to build up a 18-10 lead going into the final quarter. The Sinners laid siege and their efforts were rewarded when Kayden Michael stormed over, George Hutchinson’s icy-cool conversion made it 18-17. Redruth showed great game management to add a penalty and close out the Sinners to hold on and win the contest 21-17. A great game and a losing bonus point was the very least the Sinners deserved for their efforts. It is a week off before currently unbeaten league leaders Saltash travel to Tregorrick on 26/11/2022.

The Spartansfell to a heavy 68-7 defeat at the hands of a very strong Camborne IIs who proved too hot to handle. The Spartans competed throughout but could not match the finish power of the home side’s back line. Scott Pearce grabbed the consolation try for the Spartans.