St Austell vs Totnes 19 March 2011

St Austell 50 - 0 Totnes

Ruthless in attack and Solid defence nullifies Totnes

If the Saints were worried about facing in form Totnes it failed to show, this was a great demonstration of a cohesive, fluid attack backed by a resilient defence, the communication from Skipper Andy Ashwin ensured that forwards and backs were in the right place when it counted.
It was a hectic start the game only seeing its first breakdown in play after nearly five minutes of clean attacking Rugby, this intent being displayed by both sides. The Saints back line when in possession looking swift and dangerous, the exciting combination of Ian Venner and James Earp in the centres resplendent of what seems an age ago when the Saints were enjoying their higher league status. This tight partnership with precision tackling released wing Sam Rhodes to open the home sides account in the 11th minute, this was followed in the 18th minute when wing Alex Welland scored a trademark try with scrum half Matt Shepherd converting. The Saints pack with no less than 3 Cornwall U20 players was establishing a platform that was enabling the home 3/4 line to run amok, Full Back Callum Evison joining the attacking line with Shepherd doing the honours, the restart fielded well by the Saints forwards again created space Welland gathering the ball inside his own half ran straight down the line, self inflicting a hamstring injury but still following through to score his brace. 26 minutes gone and the bonus point secured. Not to be outdone by the backs it was the workers turn, 3 scrums against the head, confidence and commitment in the breakdown only No 8 Paul Winterbottom sporting his prodigy like hair cut rewarded their efforts breaking tackles to take the score to 31-0 with Shepherd converting. Totnes rallied late in the half but at this time were chasing shadows.
Whatever was said to Totnes at half time turned them from subversion to tasmanian devils, the Saints were encamped in their own 22, wave after wave of attacks thwarted by a stoic Saints defence, as ruthless as they had been in attack the home sides defence enthralled the Saints "massive" with hard tackling and the teamwork was evident. Against the run of play a break from the home 22 with the ball passing through many hands let James Earp break through and relieve the pressure albeit for just a few minutes, further pressure was applied by Totnes playing a tight forward game, they earned nearly 30 minutes of possession in the second half but Wing Sam Tank on for the Injured Welland out gassed his opponents scoring wide out, it was all Saints from here with Man of the Match Hooker Ryan Pill scoring in the last minute with Shepherd completing his 5th Conversion.
Teignmouth at home next week and Many Congratulations to the Saints U14's beating Reduth in the plate final 57-12.

Phill Raddenbury
Chairman & 1xv Manager
St Austell RFC

Stats
Tries
Rhodes 11, Welland 19,26, Evison 24,Winterbotton 32, Earp 56, Tank 72, Pill 80
Cons
Shepherd (5) 20,25,,33,57,80

Pens for 3 Against 12
Line Outs won 13
Own Scrums 11 plus 3 against head
Turnover for 7 against 1

Saints Replacements all used
1 Brown 2 Pill 3 Phillips (58 off Durant on) 4 Haley, 5 Pearce, 6 Jeffs (44 off Grigg on) 7 Thompson, 8 Winterbottom, 9 Shepherd, 10 Ashwin (c) 11 Rhodes, 12 Earp, 13 Venner, 14 Welland (26 off Tank on) 15 Evison.