Bolingey Barbarians v St. Austell & Truro

(combined RFC)

Sunday 23rd January 2022

The prolonged spell of dry weather was enjoyed by good spectator numbers for the Bolingey Barbarians penultimate home fixture of the season. The light northerly chill was kept away by much to applaud together with plenty of belly laughs and banter produced both on and off the pitch in true Barbarian rugby tradition.

Thanks to St. Austell RFC for organising a mini-bus carrying players who took the field wearing a smart new veterans playing kit of red and white hoops. The combination sides appearance was complimented by a smattering of Truro RFC shirts that shone like blue pearls.

Stalwart Barbarian referee Danny Robins officiated and signalled the high tempo start of a well contested first half. It was St. Austell’s Adam Pearce to score first when he touched down wide out in the eighth minute.

Bolingey replied through new cap Robert Fuca who was quick to gather a kick ahead by James Instance and equalised after twelve minutes. The match settled into a closely fought battle for possession with both sides threatening to breach opposition defence. St. Austell’s Gary Wagstaff won the spoils after several phases. Evergreen winger Ian Pellow cut infield and made the ball available after being tackled fifteen metres out; the ensuing ruck won by Truro’s Darren Symons who short passed to (Waggy) who finished the move with a fine try.

The Barbarians stayed in contention and scored next when scrum half Tom Hindes made a great solo break to score after twenty minutes. It looked destined to be drawn at 2-2 before the break. But Adam Pearce had other ideas and put the visitors ahead with his second try after sustained pressure with a strong carry to crash over between the posts.

The second half saw Steve Instance put his name on the scoresheet after forcing an error, gathering to dot the ball and equalise for the Barbarians a third time at 3-3.

This was the beginning of Barbarian ascendancy, five minutes later Lee Goodson displayed great handling skills to put the home team ahead for the first time.

After a period of mid-field battles and scrambled defence it was Steve Instance who put the visitors two down with his second try. With both sides making substitutions, the game opened up providing entertaining passages of play as caution was thrown in the pursuit of a decisive score.

Then a rare thing in vets rugby occurred when Steve Instance rounded off a great game breaking through to score his hat-trick.

After the restart drop out and the last passage of play, St. Austell / Truro threatened to score, the ball broke loose and found Lee Goodson who raced through the defence like a locomotive fresh out of Penzance Station and scored his second fine try and the tenth of a great spectacle of veteran rugby.

To paraphrase the great Kenneth Wolstenholme; ‘they think it’s all over’. . . let’s all go to the pub and discuss it over a meal at The Bolingey Inn!

The following messages from club officers . . .

Hello Gents,

What a day, it must be said that the St. Austell, Truro, Lankelly and Roseland boys did us proud both on and off the pitch.

It was a proper old game of rugby, enjoyed by a pitch side crowd that many clubs would be pleased to have.

With two new barbarians, Robert Fuca from Veor and Simon Bailey from Falmouth.  

Thank you all for the kind words and generosity; we must be doing something right.

So-called grown men buying knitted dolls; Truro doll £50, St Austell doll £60. I hope that they are looked after and not played with too roughly!

The grand total for yesterday is £1275.00 amazing.

Roger Mead B.E.M.

Chairman, Bolingey Barbarians

Hi Roger

It was a great afternoon of rugby followed by an equally enjoyable “third half”, made all the better knowing that another sizeable amount of money was raised for local children’s charities.

We are very grateful to Bolingey Barbarians for their help and support in getting the St Austell Vets back up and running, we are already looking forward to our next confirmed fixture in April.

We look forward to watching the Bolingey Barbarians fixtures at Penryn and Roseland and hopefully another St Austell RFC / Truro RFC game next season.

On behalf of everyone at St Austell RFC; I would like to thank you and the Bolingey Barbarians for helping the less fortunate children in Cornwall.

Kind regards

Paul Hayes

Chairman, St. Austell RFC