ST AUSTELL fell to a second successive defeat to start the season as an impressive Lydney outfit ran out 36-13 winners at a sunny Tregorrick Park.

The Saints made three changes from their opening day reversal at Chew Valley. Prop Peter Rowe was recalled, while youngster Riley Raikes was handed a first start, as was USA Under 20 fly-half Ben Saunders who joined the club on loan on Friday from Plymouth Albion.

The hosts started brightly, stringing together plenty of phases and went close on five minutes when winger Arthur Fletcher was tackled into touch just short of the try line.

Then a minute later the Saints had another good opportunity when Lydney lost possession deep in their own half, but were they were soon penalised, allowing the Gloucestershire outfit to clear the danger.

But the home side were on top and Saunders slotted over a penalty from the 22 on 12 minutes, before adding another six minutes later from the other side.

Lydney were the better side for the rest of the half, utilising their hefty pack to good use.

They got into the Saints 22 for the first time on 21 minutes and scored instantly as a penalty was kicked to the corner and a driving maul from 10 metres was finished off by hooker Nick Selway. Fly-half Rickie Aley missed the kick.

The visitors then went in front for the first time on 27 minutes. Left-winger Henry Sleeman collected a kick on his own 22 before getting to the home 10-metre line, winning a penalty in the tackle which Aley just managed to get over.

Lydney extended their lead just before half-time as a marauding run from prop Rowan Mullis saw him clean through before offloading to winger Brad Dunn to go the rest of the way. Aley added the extras for 15-6.

St Austell looked lively early on after the break, but conceded a third try on 49 minutes as giant prop James Bonya barged over from close range after the visitors kept knocking at the door. Aley’s kick made it 22-6.

Lydney soon won a penalty which was put down into the corner. Some excellent home defence kept them out until the 56th minute when flanker Hector Bright was sin-binned, and from the resulting scrum, No.8 Pat Hanslow went over. Aley made it four kicks from five for a 29-6 lead.

St Austell finally started to apply some pressure on the hour, but a tough afternoon was made worse on 70minutes as Bullen’s clearing kick reached full-back Alex Nelmes on the 10-metre line. He beat a defender before passing wide to Dunn who won the race to the corner. The conversion was good for 36-6.

The Saints pulled one back with a superb try three minutes later as Tyrrell broke through before popping a pass inside to Bullen coming in off the line who had an unchallenged run to the line.

Saunders’ kick made 36-13, but Lydney saw the rest of the game out with little alarm.

ST AUSTELL: Archie Bees, Arthur Fletcher, Jamie Stanlake, Ben Plummer, Max Buller, Ben Saunders, Dan Tyrrell; Peter Rowe, Peter Harris, Riley Raikes, Mark Vian, Adam Powell, Hector Bright, Rory Jago. Replacements: Dan Bennett, Kyle Marriott, Alfie Middlewood.

Tries: Bullen; Convs: Saunders; Pens: Saunders (2).

Saints’ man-of-the-match: Dan Tyrrell.