Saints hold on to start league season with victory

ST AUSTELL started their league campaign with a hard-earned victory against Chew Valley at Tregorrick Park.

Pinned in their own 22 from Finn Bulley’s opening kick-off, Chew Valley were immediately under pressure.

Captain Mark Vian stole the lineout and Saints moved the ball wide, with Dan Tyrrell creating the space for Max Bullen to weave his way over. Bulley converted for 7-0 after just three minutes.

Chew’s response quickly showed they had come to Tregorrick intent on moving the ball at pace. Saints defended well but prop Dan Bennett strayed offside close to the line and saw yellow after five minutes. Chew turned down an easy three points but were unable to capitalise.

Saints struck again after Adam Powell was caught by a high tackle, earning Chew a yellow card. Bulley found touch, Vian secured the lineout, and the Saints pack drove over with Charlie Nicholson grounding the ball. Bulley’s conversion made it 14-0 after 12 minutes, although the scoreline hardly reflected Chew’s threat.

The visitors finally got their reward when Max Dorrington found space on the right to cross for an unconverted try.

Saints responded almost immediately. Another penalty was kicked deep into Chew territory before a catch-and-drive sent Cam Taylor over in the Gym Corner for 19-5.

Chew then began to exert real pressure. Saints were struggling in the scrum, and Jake Walker became their second yellow-card casualty, but some determined defence kept the visitors out and Saints reached half-time 19-5 ahead.

Playing up the Tregorrick slope after the break, the home side found themselves increasingly on the defensive. Chew fly-half Ashley Groves kicked a penalty following a high tackle to reduce the deficit to 19-8.

The visitors continued to dominate territory, although Saints almost delivered a hammer blow when debutant hooker Connor Wild burst from a lineout with Taylor in support, only to be hunted down 15 metres short.

Chew finally broke through on 59 minutes with a superb piece of individual skill from winger Harry Stride. His perfectly judged chip and chase saw him win the race to the ball and Groves converted. At 19-15, nerves around Tregorrick were beginning to jangle.

Saints then lost Dan Navas to a head injury and found themselves pinned back once more. With injuries mounting and Chew increasingly dominant in possession and territory, the game became a test of character, but the Saints answered it superbly.

The tackling remained ferocious as Chew repeatedly attacked, only to meet a red defensive wall. Saints occasionally escaped through the pace of Tyrrell and Plummer, with even veteran forward Kyle Marriott contributing a valuable clearing kick.

The tension increased further when Tregilgas saw yellow for a high tackle, leaving Saints a man down and defending close to their own line. An overthrown Chew line-out provided a priceless reprieve and Saints cleared.

Chew threw everything at the tiring home defence in the dying moments, moving the ball wide in search of the winning score, but Saints refused to buckle.

Finally, referee Alex Peggie called time and Tyrrell calmly kicked the ball dead.

The Saints are back in action this Saturday when they visit Royal Wootton Bassett at 3pm.