By Paul Hayes at Tregorrick Park
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST (SATURDAY)
St Austell 52 Ivybridge 14
ST AUSTELL returned to winning ways with eight tries in a dominant display sponsored by KREV Performance.
It was a very focused Saints that took to the field at Tregorrick determined to end an unwelcome run of three consecutive defeats. Injuries have blighted progress throughout 2024, and the fact there were 22 senior players watching from the stands underlined the challenge that has truly stretched the three squads.
The Saints, who weren’t far off full strength, came out of the traps determined to eradicate the slow starts that have hindered them in previous games.
The forwards carried hard to punch holes in the Ivybridge defence and a flowing move saw winger Dan Tyrrell stopped just short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled and scrum-half Matt Shepherd spotted an opening to slide in for the first score after just two minutes (7-0).
Ivy responded well, but under the tutelage of ‘field marshall’ Sam Parsons, the Saints held firm.
Having weathered the green storm, the Saints were back on the attack with a lineout 10-metres from the Ivy line. When a menacing catch and drive was illegally impeded, hooker Peter Harris was first to react to power over with a quickly taken tap-penalty (14-0).
The Saints’ third try was a thing of beauty. Starting from a ruck just outside the home 22, the ball was spread wide to unleash Archie Bees. The Saints’ full-back used the supporting Jamie Stanlake as the perfect decoy to bamboozle the Ivy defence on a 70-metre slalom to the try line (21-0).
Ivybridge reacted to the setback to apply a sustained period of pressure in the Saints 22, but just when it looked like the Devonians were going to be denied, an astute cross-field kick found full-back Ben Fallows in space (21-7).
Saints finished the half on top and playing with advantage after a succession of penalty awards, Shepherd grabbed the bonus point try to make it 28-7 at the turnaround.
The Saints dominated the second half and in truth the visitors did well to contain them to just four more tries.
A glorious over the shoulder pass from Shepherd sent Stanlake in under the posts (35-7).
A lineout on the home 22 saw the ball spread wide with Bees again coming into the line at pace. This time the wizard at 15 lured the Ivy defence towards him before passing to Stanlake who scorched his way to the line (40-7). A thunderous break from George Tregilgas, a mixture of power and guile, saw a deft offload to Stanlake who was rewarded for his selfless support play with his third try of the afternoon (45-7).
Not to be outdone, the Saints back row got in on the act after an afternoon of industry when number eight Adam Powell made more hard yards to enable openside Rory Jago to set blindside Kaydan Michael on his way for the eighth home try (52-7).
Ivybridge grabbed a late consolation via Fallows’ second to bring the curtain down on an entertaining game (52-14), but it was the hosts’ day.
The win moves the Saints up to seventh before they travel to Polson Bridge for the first Cornish derby of the season against Launceston next Saturday (November 30, 3pm).
ST AUSTELL: Bees, Stanlake, Plummer, Parsons, Tyrrell, Ashwin, Shepherd; Boothby, Harris, Rowe, Vian (co capt), T Daniel, Jago, Michael, Tynedale-Powell. Replacements: Woodmansey, Hutchinson, Tregilgas.
Tries: Shepherd (2), Harris, Bees, Stanlake (3), Michael; Convs: Shepherd (6); Pens: N/A.
KREV Performance Star Player: Archie Bees.