The Saints led 17-15 at half time but optimism abounded amongst the home support at a cold windswept Alexandra Road that the Hakes would have no trouble in overhauling the visitors in the second period. Heroic defence and commitment set the home nerves a jangling as the Saints repelled everything the league leaders threw at them. The Hakes finally broke the resistance with ten minutes to go to secure a deserved bonus point win although the Saints almost snatched an unlikely victory at the end.

The after effects of Storm Eleanor were still being felt, and having won the toss, the Hakes elected to give the Saints first use of a strong cold wind blowing the length of the pitch towards the Clubhouse into a bright low-lying sun. The visitors started confidently, belying any sluggishness from their enforced three-week layoff following Penryn RFC’s “no-show” in the County Cup. St Ives were finding the Saints too hot to handle allowing Liam Freeman to slot a penalty for an early lead (0-3). The home side built up a head of steam in the Saints 22 but discovered the visitors’ defence was more than capable of withstanding the route one approach. It was not until the Hakes decided to spin the ball wide did they eventually find the gap for a well-taken try from winger Lewis Thomas (5-3). The Saints hit straight back but frustratingly another home infringement brought a promising attack to a juddering halt to ensure only three points were conceded (5-6). St Ives showed why they top the table when they ruthlessly exploited a turnover on the halfway line to launch a counterattack that was astutely finished off by Rhys Brownfield (10-6). The ever-dependable Liam Freeman kept the Saints on the home side’s coat tails with another well struck penalty (10-9) with the visitors now in the ascendency. The continuing pressure finally told when number eight George Knowles showed great athleticism to ground the ball after breaking off from a driving maul (10-14). The Saints will be kicking themselves for letting the Hakes back into the game almost immediately after fumbling the restart. The danger looked to have been averted until the considerable bulk of second row Jamie Prisk somehow found a gap to crash his way over (15-14). The visitors continued to apply the pressure heading into halftime but had to settle for another Liam Freeman penalty as their solitary reward to give the Saints a narrow 15-17 lead.

The second half seemed locked between the halfway line and the Saints’ 22 as the home side struggled to turn their territorial dominance into points in the face of aggressive and resolute defence. The Saints for their part were unable to sustain any meaningful periods of possession as an attacking force to remain locked in a rear-guard action for large portions of the second half. A long-distance Brownfield penalty gave the Hakes a narrow 18-17 lead, but it was not until 15 minutes from the end did the Hakes finally get to seriously threaten in the “red-zone”. The Saints successfully kept two attempted catch and drives at bay and looked to have turned the ball over, but the delight was short lived when the referee decided this was not achieved within the laws of the game. The home side made it third time lucky when former Cornish Pirate Rob Elloway burrowed over from the subsequent line out routine to give the Hakes a nervy 23-17 lead with ten minutes remaining. The Saints almost stole the game in the dying embers when quick thinking and swift hands by Andy Ashwin looked to have put Cav Boyer into space. The ball just failed to go to hand and the open road to the try line disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

St Ives were deserved winners and the bonus point win consolidates their position as league leaders with a six-point cushion at the top of the table. Defeat sees the Saints slip to third place behind Devonport Services but there is a lot of rugby to be played in what is shaping up to be an exciting 2018. The Saints will be looking to return to winning ways next Saturday at Tregorrick (14:30 KO) when they face 10th place Tiverton who grabbed a credible draw against Wadebridge Camels.

St Austell
1 Mark Martin; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Hector Bright; 7 Ian Venner; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Liam Freeman 13 Shane Johns; 14 Cavan Boyer; 15 CJ Boyce

Reps (All used):
Peter Rowe; Jake Carr; Adam Kellow

Saints Star Man: Andy Ashwin

St Austell:
Tries – George Knowles (26)
Cons –
Pens – Liam Freeman (2, 15, 21, 36)
Drop Goal –

St Ives
Tries – Lewis Thomas (10); Rhys Brownfield (19); Jamie Prisk (31); Rob Elloway (70)
Cons –
Pens – Rhys Brownfield (52)
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr A Denham (Cornwall RRS)