The Saints served up their best 40 minutes of the season with a scintillating second half performance to run in 5 tries to the delight of a raucous Tregorrick faithful. The party mood continued with the Sinners securing a 55-25 win over local rivals Lankelly-Fowey to complete a memorable day for St Austell RFC.

The opening quarter was played at a frenetic and frantic pace with both sides trying to run the ball at every opportunity. With a high error rate, it was a staccato affair and play was locked between the two 22s with neither side threatening to carve out an opportunity of note. The pattern of play suited the free running and pacy students far more than the home side and it was not until the Saints started to play to their strengths that the deadlock was broken. An excellent break by centre James Martin took play into the “red zone” for the first time on 22 minutes setting up a prolonged period of forward pressure. Twice the Saints were held up over the line but it only delayed the inevitable and it was diminutive scrum half Dan Jane who dived over as a 5m scrum forged forward (5-0). The Scholars hit back with an interception try (5-7) to take control of the final ten minutes of the half. With play becoming increasingly broken the Academics were moving the ball with menace in the open spaces. It was no surprise when the Undergraduates extended their lead with an excellent try in the corner to make the half time score 5-12.

The Saints knew they had to tightened things up in the second half by maintaining their structures and organisation to deny the Intellectuals any freedom to run the ball. The home side were back in the game a minute after the restart following a brilliant break by Callum Wilson. The fly half gathered his own chip kick and with forwards Miles Davey and Will Gilder in close attendance, a pass was spun to centre Shane Johns who made a bullocking run to the line (10-12). The home side were now on top and full back Sam Kendall showed great pace and surprising strength to beat the defence before a perfectly timed pass to flanker Sam Rhodes who dived in melodramatically under the posts (17-12). The Freshers underlined they were still a force to be reckoned with after a missed tackle on the 40m line saw the ball flash through several pairs of hands to regain the lead with a converted try (17-19). On the hour mark the Sophomores were penalised for holding on and Cavan Boyer coolly restored the Saints’ lead (20-19). The home side went through the gears in the final quarter with Sam Rhodes leading the charge. The blindside flanker caught the restart two-handed above his head and then surged 60m down the field only to be brought down by desperate defenders just shy of the try line. The Saints won the resulting scrum against the head and a brilliant mismove saw James Martin glide in by the posts to secure the all-important bonus point (27-19). The home side were threatening at every opportunity and a turnover by skipper Miles Davey set winger Cavan Boyer dancing down the touchline (34-19). The best was saved for last when lock Adam Kellow turned over the ball on the Saints’ 40m line. The second row threw a glorious shimmering side step before making a lung-busting 60m slaloming run that managed to evade a despairing Student defence on route to the try line to make the final score 39-19.

It was a fitting end to the final home game after a season of transition which saw many senior players either hang up their boots or ply their trade elsewhere. The youngsters who have come in have found it hard going at times but no one ever doubted their talent or commitment. The fact the Saints secured 9 losing bonus over the course of the season just shows how close they were to becoming an established top half side. The future looks bright indeed and they will travel to Devon next Saturday full of confidence and determined to finish the season on a high at Tiverton (KO 3pm).

Man of the Match: James Martin – On a day when the whole squad excelled it was probably the hardest MoM award of the season. Skipper Miles Davey led the side with distinction, forwards Adam Kellow, Andy Inch and Sam Rhodes were combative throughout and fly-half Callum Wilson controlled play well in the second half. Centre James Martin edged it, a constant thorn in the opposition defence with straight running and occasional side steps!

1 Peter Rowe; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Will Gilder; 5 Adam Kellow; 6 Sam Rhodes; 7 Andy Inch; 8 George Knowles; 9 Dan Jane; 10 Callum Wilson; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Shane Johns; 13 James Martin; 14 Cavan Boyer 15 Sam Kendall

Reps:
Max Duggan; Liam Freeman; Josh Freeman

St Austell:
Tries – Dan Jane (26); Shane Johns (41); Sam Rhodes (49); James Martin (64); Cavan Boyer (72); Adam Kellow (80)
Cons – Cavan Boyer (49, 64, 72)
Pens – Cavan Boyer (62)
Drop Goal –

Exeter University:
Tries – 31, 39, 58
Cons – 31, 58
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Exeter University: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Exeter University: None

Referee: Mr Simon Lord (Cornwall RRS)