Welly give Saints the Boot!

In difficult conditions both sides put on an entertaining if error strewn contest in the wind, rain and mud with the result remaining in doubt right up to the final whistle. In the end, three first half tries saw Wellington home and hosed but the Saints will know they have only themselves to blame for letting yet another win slip, quite literally, through their hands. Their fragility under the high ball cost them dearly when even the simplest of unopposed catches were put to the ground. Only so much can be attributed to the inclement weather with the cause rooted in poor technique and a lack of concentration. Welly eagerly profited from the Saints’ blunders to either regain the momentum and on more than one occasion score points.

The game was barely 32 seconds old when the hosts went ahead to the delight and surprise of the home crowd. Saints’ receivers spilled the ball from the kick-off and with the referee playing advantage the home side pounced. A diagonal cross field kick landing in the hands of winger Joe Coppin who dived in at the corner (0-5). The Saints worked had to find a response and centre Keith Chegwin and lock Tony Knight combined to create the space for flanker Hector Bright to roar over for his first senior try (5-5). Saints spilled the restart again and immediately were on the back foot from a rampant looking Welly. The rear-guard action held firm until a quick tap penalty allowed Jack Woodland to crash over for a converted try (12-5). The Saints almost hit back straight away when a wonderful sleight of hand pass from Chris Ashwin allowed Keith Chegwin to pop through a hole to touch down under the posts. The pass was adjudged to have been forward but it was a prelude to a period of sustained pressure from the visitors. With the home side becoming increasingly stretched in defence they gave away a stream of penalties. Unfortunately, the Saints’ lineout was misfiring badly and the failure to secure three consecutive put-ins within catch and drive territory was to prove costly. Two panicky clearance kicks from Welly fell short of touch around the 22m line but both catches were put to ground letting the hosts off the hook. With half time looming, the Saints decided to take the three points when Welly conceded another offside penalty. At 12-8 the visitors should have been able to regroup during the interval but a misguided attempt at a quick 22 drop out moments later was botched allowing Welly to steal the ball to set Coppin on his way to a second try deep into time added on. Hawkings’ touchline conversion added the ribbon to the early Christmas present to give the scoreboard a far more menacing look at half time (19-8).

Just as they did at Torquay a fortnight ago, the Saints gave a far better second half performance. Liam Freeman set the pulses racing when he touched down and converted just five minutes in (19-15). Saints were now on top but the Welly defence dug deep to frustrate the Cornishmen and ride out the storm. The game was now nip and tuck with opportunities appearing for both sides. The Saints were grateful to full back James Martin’s alertness as he snuffed two dangerous looking moves. For the visitors’ wing Ben Chenoweth went close while prop Charlie Nicholson and flanker Jack Nelson both had barnstorming runs cut down short of the try line. Hawkings gave Welly some breathing space when he punished a Saints offside (22-15). Liam Freeman returned the compliment with 10 minutes to (22-18) and although they huffed and puffed in search of the winning score the Saints could not find a way through a very determined Welly defence.

The Saints will know that this was a game they should have won, the failure to take advantage of a penalty count of 16-7 in their favour will be a source of real frustration for all concerned. The Saints will be hoping they find a cure for their travel sickness when they return to Somerset next week for their longest journey of the season to Burnham-on-sea (KO 2:30pm).

1 Charlie Nicholson; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Adam Pearce; 6 Hector Bright; 7 Jack Nelson; 8 Max Duggan; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Cavan Boyer; 12 Liam Freeman 13 Keith Chegwin; 14 Ben Chenoweth 15 James Martin

Reps:
Dan Jane; Michael Shakespear; Andy Inch

St Austell:
Tries – Hector Bright (5); Liam Freeman (44)
Cons – Liam Freeman (44)
Pens – Liam Freeman (38, 70)
Drop Goal –

Wellington:
Tries – Joe Coppin (1, 40 + 2); Jack Woodland (15)
Cons – Tom Hawkings (15, 40 +2)
Pens – Tom Hawkings (67)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Wellington: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Wellington: None

Referee: Mr Max Western (Somerset RRS)