1st XV 'Saints'
Matches
Sat 10 Sep 2011  ·  Tribute Western Counties West
St Austell RFC
1st XV 'Saints'
Tries: P Winterbottom (3), A Welland, J Grigg, B Chenoweth, I Venner, T MilesConversions: A Ashwin (3)
46
7
Kingsbridge
St Austell 46 Kingsbridge 7

St Austell 46 Kingsbridge 7

Paul Hayes11 Sep 2011 - 08:30
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs

Saints blow Kingsbridge away!!

St Austell recorded their second bonus win of the season with another 8 try haul to go top of the Western Counties League. In a side showing 5 changes from last week’s opener at Ivybridge the Saints got off to an explosive start to settle any nerves in front of a large expectant Tregorrick Park crowd watching their first match at this level for 10 years. It was a commanding performance by the Saints in windy conditions against a Kingsbridge side that finished runners up to Penryn last season. The pack dominated the much vaunted Kings’ forwards while the back line was incisive in attack and rugged in defence.

Taking full advantage of the strong south westerly wind blowing the length of the pitch, Saints hit two tries in the first 4 minutes. The first try was all about clinical forwards efficiency; Kingsbridge misplaced their kick off and from the resulting scrum winger Alex Welland forced a 5m lineout. A catch and drive allowed Paul Winterbottom to score his first try of the season with skipper Andy Ashwin converting. From the restart the lock Adam Pearce provided quick ball which allowed centres James Earp and Ian Venner to tear through the visitor’s defence. With hooker Jack Grigg in support the ball was fed to Welland to finish under the posts giving Ashwin an easy kick for the two points. Saints continued to dominate procession with Kingsbridge, although unable to get the ball out of their own half, providing stout and rugged defence. Venner provided the catalyst to unlock the defensive wall with an incredible surge that had 5 defenders hanging off him! Despite losing his boot he managed to pass to Welland who fed the supporting Grigg to score. The Saints line out provided the next two tries with well worked routines to allow flanker Winterbottom to complete his hat trick. Both conversions were missed and sandwiched between the scores was a yellow card for a Kingsbridge flanker for persistent offside. The half closed with Saints deservedly 29-0 ahead but now having to play into the wind in the second forty.

Kingsbridge started with great determination to gain the early score needed to give them any chance of clawing back the deficit. Keeping the ball amongst their forwards the visitors’ applied some real pressure on Saints for the first time in the match without ever finding the breakthrough. A spilled ball allowed Saints to clear their lines and set up the next try. From a scrum 30m out, scrum half Ashwin orchestrated a blindside move that enabled winger Ben Chenoweth to outstrip the King’s defence to touchdown in the corner with 55 minutes on the clock. Any thoughts of a Kingsbridge comeback were extinguished 9 minutes later when after sustained pressure on the visitors’ line Venner crashed over for a well-deserved try. Saints discipline had been exemplary for most of the match but inexplicably the penalty count started to go against the home side. This provided Kingsbridge with some much needed ball enabling them to score a consolation try in the 74th minute after a rare period of prolonged pressure in the Saints 22. The game finished on a high note for the Cornishmen when quick hands by the ever present Grigg and prop Will Hancock, on as a replacement for Damo Phillips, allowed full back Tom Miles to cruise over to place the ball under the posts.

There was much to admire in today’s performance for the Saints and the coaching staff will be pleased at how the lessons from last week’s match at Ivybridge were clearly learnt. Saints were hungrier than Kingsbridge and adapted to the conditions far better than the Devon team. It is great credit to the players and coaches that the enforced changes due to suspension, injury and unavailability had no impact on the day. There will undoubtedly be tougher days to come but for now Saints can be extremely pleased with how they have started the season.

Match Stats:

St Austell: Phillips (Hancock 64), Grigg, Martin, Haley, Pearce (Pill 55), Jeffs, Winterbottom, Black, Ashwin (Captain), Murley, Chenoweth, Earp, Venner (Crapp 70), Welland, Miles

St Austell: Tries - Winterbottom (2, 20, 33); Welland (4); Grigg (15); Chenoweth (55); Venner (64); Miles (8)
Cons - Ashwin (3)

Kingsbridge: Tries - (74), Cons - 1

Yellow Cards Kingsbridge: (32). St Austell: None

Red Cards None

Referee Jane Pizzi (Cornwall)

Saints Man of the Match: Awarded jointly to Mark "Choppy" Martin and Ian "Sid" Venner

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Sep 2011

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

13:15

Instructions

Please make every attempt to attend training on Thursday in preparation for our first home league match on Saturday.

Meeting time is 13:15 sharp for team and Club photos. Please ARRIVE in new "Ghurkha" Shorts and red hooped socks.

Our aim is to switch to "match mode" by 13:40 to be ready to start our warm up by 14:10.

Please advise Paul Hayes (Saints Team Manager: 07515 881 799; paul-hayes@dsl.pipex.com) of ANY issues regarding you availability OR change in meeting arrangements.

Please check in with Paul to confirm your arrival at meet time and to pay your £5 match fees for this match.

Competition

Tribute Western Counties West
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit & Matchday Sponsor - Sharps Molson Coors
Player Sponsor - Coastal Building and Joinery LTD
Player Sponsor - River Valley Holiday Park
Player Sponsor - Chris Powley Electrical Services
Player Sponsor - Davey Digger Hire
Player and programme Sponsor - The Hewas Inn
Player Sponsor - Duke of Cornwall Supporters Club
Player Sponsor - Rebellion Roast House & Moonshine Bar
Player Sponsor - The Polgooth Inn
Player Sponsors - Paul & Jan Hayes
Player Sponsor - JAWS
Player Sponsor - P.C.Tonkin & Son
After Match Shirts / Player  - Adam Kellow Plastering
Player Sponsor - D Nottle Scaffolding
Pitchside/Programme/Matchday Sponsor - River Valley Garage
Kit Sponsor - Build Cornwall
Senior Kit Sponsor  - D Nottle Scaffolding
Kit Sponsors - Cornwall Mortgages
Player Sponsor - Duke of Cornwall Pub
Player Sponsor - Top Notch Joinery
Senior Shirt Sponsor & Pitch side Board Sponsor - Gripsure UK
Player & Kit Sponsor - The Par Inn
Senior Shorts Sponsor - CraneTec
Kit Partner - Samurai
Shirt Sponsor - Build Cornwall
Senior Shirt Sponsor - Cornwall Mortgages
Senior Kit Sponsor - Noott Marine