Salcombe First XV lose to St. Just (15-34)

11th Feb 2012

While the final score flattered St. Just because of a converted try scored as the last move of the match, the home side nevertheless deserved their win as the better side on the day. Home advantage plus the inclusion of a couple of Truro Academy players in their backs, and especially their very influential fly half, gave them an edge in speed and inventiveness which Salcombe were hard put to match.

The Crabs came to this match well prepared but found their plans thrown into some confusion by the late withdrawal in the morning of one of their backs. This on top of the non availability of Rupert Bevan due to work commitments left the back line a little thin and everyone's thanks must go to T'Rob Park for turning out when he only came along to watch!

Salcombe started well using their heavier pack to advantage to keep the home side in their own half. Chris Drew and Mark Lidstone kicked intelligently and gave the forwards something to work with and after 10 minutes they got their reward when St. Just defending desperately infringed and Drew kicked the penalty. But St Just gradually got a bit more of the ball and invariably kicked for position rather than try to run out of defence on the heavy field. When they had possession in the Salcombe half they looked dangerous and on 20 minutes they opened Salcombe up with clinical precision to get a converted try. Shortly afterwards they got a penalty and suddenly the score was 10-3 to St. Just.
The Crabs responded with an awesome exhibition of power rugby using their heavy pack to rumble steadily down the pitch. When St Just managed to win ball they were usually too close to their own line to do other than kick. Salcombe won most lineouts with Sean Baker, James Cooper and Ian Smerdon providing the ball to Lewis Winzer who either box kicked or gave it to Drew for a long range kick deep into St Just territory. The tactics paid off when the Salcombe pack marshalled well by Lewis Winzer put in some 10 phases advancing around 30 yards before the excellent Jez Foster went over for the try which Drew converted to bring up a half time score of 10 all.

Straight after half time the Crab's backs showed their hand and in an elegant move which very nearly had Liam Wills over the line but for a covering tackle. Straight after Lidstone fielded a St Just kick and raced up the touch line before passing to Drew who made the vital break before passing to Lewis Winzer for the try wide out. The conversion missed but Salcombe were ahead 15-10. And there the score remained until deep into the last quarter of the match. However full back Simon Keen had to go off with a dislocated shoulder and lacking an authentic backs replacement James Palmer, normally a back row, was pressed into service returning after a 10 week lay off due to injury.

Inevitably some of Salcombe's cohesion in defence suffered and the home side took full advantage to score two quick converted tries and bring the score to 24-15 in their favour. But the Salcombe challenge was still sufficiently worrying to St. Just that they opted to slot another penalty rather than go for touch and the drive. This took the score to 27-15 before in the dying moments of the match St Just got their last converted try.

This was an epic performance by the Crabs and one in which everyone played a part. Scott Lowry was voted Salcombe man of the match but in truth there were a number of candidates for the title.

Salcombe now face two difficult league matches away to 2nd placed New Cross this Saturday,ko 2.30, and the following week at home to top of the table Wessex on the 25th. The Crabs need a similar performance to that against St Just in both because with last Saturday's league results going the wrong way for Salcombe, relegation still remains an uncomfortable possibility.

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Salcombe First XV lose to St. Just (15-34)