On a very frustrating day for the Saints there is no doubting the Devonians were deserved winners in a dour encounter that matched the wet conditions. The visitors however would have won few admirers in the stands as they looked to slow down the game at every opportunity. Tivvy used their experience to ensure a constant stream of “injuries”, reapplying binding tape and cleaning the ball to make the game a stop-start affair. The frequent breaks in play, especially in the second half, resulted in neither side being able to generate any sustained continuity with the ball.

Tivvy took full advantage of a lacklustre opening from the home side to build up an 8-0 lead in the opening quarter. In truth, the deficit could have been worse for the home side but for some alert defending by full back CJ Boyce. The first bright spot for the home side came with an interception by Hugh Noott on the halfway line. The prop’s chip ahead almost allowed Adam Kellow to win the chase only for Tivvy to scramble the ball out of reach. Neat footwork by centre Peter Tuckley, making his first appearance of the season, almost put winger Cavan Boyer in for a try but again good defence shepherded the danger out into touch. The home side’s dominance at the scrum gave Liam Freeman the chance to slot a penalty on the half hour mark (3-8). The building pressure signalled the Saints’ best phase in the game and with time nearly up, CJ Boyce came into the backline and quick hands gave winger Ben Chenoweth the chance to power home from 20m in a rare bright spot for the home side (8-8).

Early in the second half Tivvy produced the best passage of play of the eighty minutes, clocking up numerous phases that were eventually finished off by flanker Jamie Green for a fine converted try (8-15). It took twenty minutes before the Saints fashioned a response and they were grateful to their dominant pack for a pushover try against a visibly creaking Tivvy eight (15-15). The hard work was undone in a moment when a needless high tackle gave Down the chance to slot over to restore Tivvy’s lead straight from the restart (15-18). The constant stream of stoppages did little for the spectacle, but it was exactly what was required for the visitors as they continued to hold the home side at bay. Deep into time added on, Saints finally were able to apply some serious pressure on the visitor’s try line. The home side were awarded a succession of penalties but spurned a potential equalizing kick as they sought to go for the win. The Saints elected to surprise Tivvy by running a blindside move rather than go for the expected second pushover try. The gamble failed as the visitors proved wise to the ruse and a frantic scrambling defence drove the Saints into touch to spark jubilant scenes amongst the Tiverton players.

It has been a difficult start to 2018 and defeat sees third placed St Austell drop off the pace in the promotion race with the top two both securing bonus point wins. Next week the Saints travel to Torquay Athletic and they know they will have a difficult challenge ahead of them as the English Riviera has rarely been a happy hunting ground for them (14:30 KO)

St Austell
1 Mark Martin; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Adam Kellow; 6 Andy Inch; 7 Ian Venner; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Liam Freeman 13 Peter Tuckley; 14 Cavan Boyer; 15 CJ Boyce
Reps (All used):
Peter Rowe; Hector Bright; Frazer Nottle

St Austell:
Tries – Ben Chenoweth (38); Andy Inch (61)
Cons – Liam Freeman (61)
Pens – Liam Freeman (33)
Drop Goal –

Tiverton
Tries – Greg Mill (4); Jamie Green (47)
Cons – Matt Down (47)
Pens – Matt Down (16, 63)
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr S Lord (Cornwall RRS)