Their dream of a Twickenham final may have ended, but with nothing to choose between either side from start to finish, Saltash, while disappointed, can have no complaints at the result of this Tetley Bitter Vase tie against the public school old boys, who included three Oxford Blues in their ranks.

Far belied their rag, tag and bobtail image of shared ground, borrowed shirts, and an array of multi coloured socks and shorts it was a cracking, close run, end to end affair.

Despite dominating up front Saltash were unable to turn their usual forward pressure into points, and they trailed seven points behind at half time after Old Wellingtonians fullback Tim Price converted for wing Steve Brownrigg.

Justin Yeldham lengthened the home lead with a try five minutes into the restart and with determined tackling from both sides that may well have been the end of it.

But from the home followers along the touchline, the feeling was that the final quarter went to Saltash. The Wellies' comfort zone was reduced after yet another hard passage of Saltash play finally carried Steve Hall over for Nigel Owen to add the extras. Another score from Saltash looked a distinct possibility. The Old Boys spent an anxious ten minutes hanging on and the contest went right to the wire.