Match Preview

Welcome to the 2022/23 rugby season! It’s been and still is a hectic world so I’m pleased that rugby is back, to give some of us something to enjoy and perhaps distract. For a couple of hours this Saturday, grab some sanctuary by heading up to Tregorrick Park, to cheer on both sides and the match officials.

It being the first game of the new season we only have the pre-season fixtures to look at, and the first of them against Launceston, who defeated us in the recent Cornwall Cup Final, I wasn’t there for (the reality of having to travel for work) so can only mention what I read and have heard.

A mixed team of Saints and Sinners (the senior squad) welcomed the Cornish All Blacks to Tregorrick on 11 Aug for a Thursday evening kick off in weather that could still be described as ‘balmy’.

With the plan to play a couple of sides in two halves, the game commenced. Dan Tyrrell opened the scoring with Matt Shepherd (2), Jake Clifford, CJ Boyce, Frazer Nottle and Hector Bright adding to the final score of 47-19 to St Austell RFC. By any measure that is an achievement, even if pre-season fixtures are a bit stop-start as each side uses the unlimited subs allowed.

Next up was Bude. I was there for that one and it was still hot and the ground hard as concrete. Again, a decent senior squad travelled to Bencoolen Meadow (although they used the back pitch) and set about exercising the back line. Tries for Max Bullen, Cav Boyer, Matt Shepherd (2), and a potentially expensive hattrick (did he get slabbed?) for Danny Tyrrell who was dominant on the right wing was complimented by 4 conversions from Shep and one from Nick Wooley. Whilst the scores aren’t all that important in these early fixtures, just to be administratively on the ball, this encounter ended 45-7 to Saints.

Next up was the ‘grand fromage’ in the form of Camborne. A few new faces, some with recent Championship experience ran out in the Cherries shirt and this game was a steep physical step-up from the previous week. The first 5 minutes territorially favoured the Saints until a missed pass allowed a bobbling ball to be snatched up and Camborne aren’t the sort of team to waste that kind of opportunity. Another loose ball made it 12-0 and another soft try via a ‘steal’ made it 19-0. Camborne turned up the heat and applied pressure to score another two more times (31-0) whilst Charlie Nicholson left the pitch due to injury.

Into the second half and Camborne immediately carved through the Saint’s back line to make it 36-0 and Shep makes an appearance. Camborne work through the phases to get over one more time. Saints work their way up the field and a tap and go gives Andy Inch an opportunity to dive over. In the dying seconds the Saints spin it and Bullen comes up the victor in a 1:1. Final score was 43-14 to Camborne but that was the workout Kyle and his coaching team were after, with plenty of positives against a cracking Camborne squad.

It must be mentioned that the Sinners took on the Camborne Crusaders and came out victors 21-14!

So, pre-season is over. All in all, it achieved what was required of it.

Saints last season finished 4th in what was South West 1 West. They earned 85 points from 24 games, including 15 try scoring bonus points, and beat the champions Chew Valley and third placed Lydney both away and at Tregorrick.

Our opponents, North Petherton, finished 11th in the same league, earning 35 points from 24 games, including 8 try scoring bonus points.

From their website, they had three pre-season fixtures planned. I have asked them how they got on, and if any info comes through, I will edit this article accordingly. The fixtures were against Penalta RFC, Gordano and Burham-on-Sea. We all hope they got what they needed from those and avoided injuries as well.

Exciting news about your spectator experience! Over the summer some hard work has been put in to develop the ‘Ruck ‘n’ Maul’ shed (often referred to as Frosties) at the end of the stand. From now on, on match days, you can buy cans of lager, beer, cider etc (and soft drinks) from there. If you can stand even more excitement, there is also the welcome return of hot food from the same location e.g. burgers, hot dogs etc. No need to worry about eating before you arrive now…all from the Ruck ‘n’ Maul.

The forecast is for rain but not to be all that cold this Saturday. Hopefully it will soften up the ground for the players! I for one cannot wait to see you all again and to hear the clatter of studs down the steps and the roar from the stands of Tregorrick.

Kick off is 3pm with the top bar being open from 1pm, with the Ruck ‘n’ Maul opening a little later as people arrive.

I’ll see you all up there

Ian

Please do think about the home game after this one, where we welcome Teignmouth to Tregorrick Park. A full lunch is being served and just needs you (as a small, medium or large group, or as a singleton) to ring up and book some seats. It’s a great way to start off your rugby match day experience with us. Please email rugby.events@staustellrfc.co.uk or call 01726 76430 (staff in 0900-1500 most week days or leave a clear message and they will call you back). More info on the lunches is HERE