Nicholson's hat-trick helps Saints return to ways at Tregorrick Park

CLUB captain Charlie Nicholson led from the front with a hat-trick as St Austell secured a second win of the season with a 33-12 success over promoted Weston-super-Mare at Tregorrick Park on Saturday.

The Saints had been beaten on home soil by Cornish rivals Launceston and Sidmouth in the previous fortnight, and there were two changes from the week before as key centre Jamie Stanlake, who was making his 50th first team appearance, replaced George Tregilgas, while prop Dan Bennett stepped in for the unavailable Matt Boothby.

Camborne half-back Will Tanswell was included on the bench having rejoined the club on loan earlier in the week.

In testing conditions, the Saints decided to play against the wind and slope in the first half, a move which proved inspired as they went into half-time all square at 7-7.

They took a 15th minute lead with a brilliant team try Interplay between the forwards and backs took them 65 metres down the field before prop Nicholson barged over as South African fly-half Neldus Kruger converted.

However, they were pegged back just before the half-hour mark via a try from outside-centre Huw Morgan that fly-half George Nuttycombe added to.

St Austell knew getting in front early after the restart was key, but they went behind as after a poor kick-off allowed the Somerset outfit possession, they eventually set winger Stuart Souch away to score in the corner.

However, he was soon yellow-carded for foul play, and on 47 minutes the Saints bounced back as man-of-the-match flanker Cam Taylor finished off a driving maul.

On 49 minutes it was 14 against 14 for the next few minutes as home centre AJ King was adjudged to have made a deliberate knock-on, but six minutes later they were back in front as another catch and drive try was scored with Nicholson doing the business. Kruger missed the kick but they were 19-12 to the good.

Influential flanker Hector Bright was brought on just past the 50-minute mark and his brilliant 60-metre run from the resulting restart ended with the hosts grabbing their bonus-point try. After he got towards the Weston red zone, good play by Taylor and Kyle Marriott fed skipper Mark Vian who was tackled just short. However, Nicholson followed up to dot down from a yard.

The Saints knew one more try would put them three scores to the good and just past the hour grabbed it as Tanswell took a quick tap penalty to dart in under the posts.

Both teams emptied the bench in a bid to add fresh legs, but there was no further scoring as St Austell moved up to seventh ahead of Saturday’s trip to fifth-placed Topsham. Elsewhere on Saturday, the Sinners were beaten 38-0 at promotion-hopefuls Helston in Counties Two Cornwall.

ST AUSTELL: Max Bullen; Finn Bulley, AJ King, Jamie Stanlake, Dan Tyrrell; Neldus Kruger, Jake Walker; Dan Bennett, Connor Wild, Charlie Nicholson; Adam Powell, Mark Vian (capt); Rory Jago, Cam Taylor, Kyle Marriott. Replacements (all used): Scott Pearce, Hector Bright, Will Tanswell, Sam Stokes, George Tregilgas.

Tries: Nicholson (3), Taylor, Tanswell; Convs: Kruger (4); Pens: N/A.

Saints’ man-of-the-match: Cam Taylor.