Counties 2 Cornwall

St Austell 10 Saltash 16

This was an excellent team performance from Saltash which resulted in a hard fought victory on a wet and windy Tregorrick Park against a St Austell side with a lively pack that gave the visitors a difficult time especially in the first half.

The result keeps Saltash in the race for the top spot in the league.

The slippery ball produced mistakes that broke up promising attacks and there was much kicking in the early stages of the game. Saltash took the lead after 18 minutes from a Lewis Stuart penalty but St Austell soon hit back with a similar score from George Hutchinson. 

The SSinners gained the ascendancy, and centre Peter Tuckley grabbed a 31st minute try to give the home side a 10-3 lead.

Saltash continued to defend well as St Austell pressed to extend their advantage but Saltash almost got a try just before the interval when Devon Bennett-Murray broke through and was tackled just short of the line.

Saltash got a great second half start with a try from Will Morton after 41 minutes following good running from the backs as they slowly took control of the game, although St Austell were still a threat.

More Ashes determined play led to a 73rd minute penalty by Stuart in front of the posts which put them into an 11-10 lead.

With the lights on, Saltash drove into the St Austell 22 and eventually Lewis Wells sealed victory over a tiring home side with a try on the left wing.

The Sinners’ coaching staff can be proud of the team’s performance as they pushed the high-flying Ashes all the way.

Saltash: 1 Simon Nance, 2 Rob Walsh, 3 Ryan Simmons, 4 Lewis Woolaway, 5 Matt Coker, 6 Lewis Wells, 7 Phil Eatwell, 8 Devon Bennett-Murray, 9 Jack Pritchard, 10 Lewis Stuart, 11 Jay Moriarty (c), 12 Nick Blake, 13 Greg Eatwell, 14 Will Morton, 15 Ryan Cruickshanks.

Replacements: 16 Ben Simmons, 17 Axel Nicks, 18 Devan Marshall, 19 Billy Dover.