Helston 15 St Just 3
HELSTON returned to winning ways with a gutsy performance to defeat St Just in Tribute Cornwall One on Saturday.
Before kick off Barry and Naomi Clark, owners of the Wheal Dream Restaurant, presented captain Ross Williams with a new set of jerseys provided through Whirlwind Sports from Rugby Tech.
Helston were a little deflated after the previous week's result away to St Agnes.
They also welcomed back former player Ben Osborne to the replacements bench.
Straight from the kick off the home side stormed into the St Just 22 metre area and when the visiting back line strayed offside full-back Calvin Warwick stepped up to slot the three points.
Again Helston pressed the visitors' line but kept coming up short.
Centre Decarlo Trerise crossed the line out wide only to be bundled into touch before he could ground the ball.
After 20 minutes No.8 and talisman Robin Cookson came off with a damaged thumb to add to Helston's injury woes but Osborne slotted straight into the back row as though he had never been away.
Player coach Guy Pallett settled into the No.8 role and play resumed.
It was to take until the stroke of half-time before flanker Harry Bardsley broke through to deliver a telling pass to allow Ross Williams to cross the line and he was then able to head towards the post to allow Warwick to slot the extra points to give Helston a half-time lead of 10-0.
St Just started the second half strongly and with the wind and the slope really fancied their chances.
St Just's only points came from a solitary penalty mid way through the half.
However Helston's defence held firm and when stalwart LJ Collick replaced exiting youngster Dominic Pascoe at scrum half with 20 minutes left it looked like the home side would hold out.
But then the Helston scrum came under renewed pressure so director of coaching Dave Adams called on club stalwart and prop Steve Vincent to go back into the fray and steady the ship.
The renewed strength up front allowed a steady stream of possession to be restored and with the last move of the match fly half Lee Hunter broke up field and with a deft flick of a one handed pass sent Warwick away along the touchline to score in the corner and deny St Just a bonus point in defeat.
All in all a good days work for the Helston outfit.
Helston are away to Stithians this weekend with the kick off reverting back to 2.30pm.
