Rugby
Truro 29
Saltash 33
St Clements Truro hosted the Ashes in a league match for the first time for five years.
The home side settled early and played with a little more confidence and possession in the early stages.
Their bulky forwards hammered away and for the first quarter Saltash weathered the storm with a couple of penalties conceded.
Over time, the game opened up, and for the visitors, number 8 Steve Hillman ran some hard lines to give his side hope.
As the heat told and the visitors demonstrated ambition it became a more even contest. Saltash blindside Kyle Felton charged out of the 22 and in a flash Saltash winger Will Morton was under the posts from the halfway, for full-back Max Venables to convert to nudge into the front at 7-6, which became 10-6 shortly afterwards.
Truro came back and were soon camped in the Ashes’ half. The bulkier home forwards drove at the Saltash line and seven points were soon on the scoreboard as they hit the front at 13-7. Morton added a second try just before the break to narrow the gap.
The second act was an absorbing affair; gradually the visitors started to exercise control, tenuous but discernable. Skipper Todd Crofts at 10 turned the tide for the visitors who had been under the cosh in the first period, exercising more control and giving Saltash locks Hancock and Scott some mid field ball to have a charge at the Truro line.
The game was a tough examination of the tight forwards for the Ashes, who managed the situation well and the lighter front row of veterans Rob Eatwell and Simon Nance, coupled with the youthful exuberance of tighthead Adam Coutts, put in a big shift, ably-supported by the return to Saltash colours of Andy Knight.
As the game wore on, the tie seemed to be heading the visitors’ way; the ball was used well, with centre Callum Cload distributing well. His centre partner Harrison Reburn was all smooth hands and winger Shaun Crawford proved a real handful out wide but could not make their possession tell on the scoreboard.
With 10 minutes to go the home side were tiring and still defending a three-point lead – at 24-21 Saltash seemed assured of at least a losing bonus point.
Then, calamity as almost the only visit to the Ashes’ 22 of the half saw the tired but still strong and able Truro pack boss the ball and get a try to extend their lead to 29-21.
Truro missed the conversion and Saltash took the kick-off with five minutes remaining. Then came hope – Crofts wielded his baton, the ball was regained, it went left, then right where Venables kicked off his traces, galloped into the space – and with Morton’s help it was a five-pointer in the corner with no extras; 29-27 to Truro with three minutes left.
Saltash regained the ball from the kick-off and out it spun from scrum-half Dom Mulberry and after accepting Venables’ inside feed Morton went under the posts – Saltash 31 Truro 29 – and silence from the galleries as Venables put the ball over for a four-point lead with a minute remaining.
Saltash withstood the siege and held on for the win and a valuable three points.