Saltash hit form ahead of their big Cup Final

SALTASH warmed-up for Wednesday night's Lockie Cup clash with OPM by thrashing St Just 107-5 at Moorlands Lane.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

The Ashes won't be going up from Cornwall One this season as they are destined for second place again in a division with only one promotion place.

The Papa Johns Championship Cup are, in which Saltash travel to Warminster this Saturday, and the Lockie Cup are Saltash's only focus for what's left of the season.

Saltash produced a 17-try demolition of a plucky St Just side, who could not contain a fast-flowing team playing their best open rugby of the season.

Tom Rixon opened the Saltash scoring after five minutes with Lewis Stuart following with a touch down four minutes later. Danny Snook added the extras.

Will Morton ran through the St Just defence to score three tries in ten minutes. Conversions put Saltash 31-0 up after 24 minutes.

By half time St Just had dragged a try back, but Snook and Morton took the Saltash lead to 43-5.

The second period started with Saltash skipper Jay Moriarty getting on the end of a well-worked move on the right wing.

Tries came thick and fast in the next 12 minutes as Phil Eatwell, Ryan Cruickshanks and Morton piled-up the points.

There was no leto-up in the latter stages as Cruickshanks, Ryan Rayner, Carroll, Morton and Lewis Wells all went over.

Snook (7) and Jack Pritchard (4) were the goal kickers.

PLYMSTOCK Oaks gave Paignton a real run for their money before subsiding to a 26-22 defeat at Queen's Park.

Although there was nothing on the game for Oaks their Western Counties promotion prospects vanished a while ago - the Cherries were still in the race and needed all five points from the match as a failsafe.

Paignton needed leaders Tiverton to slip-up against Penryn to get past them and had to play their last game of the season as if it was a cup final...just in case. Tiverton's 52-10 win over the Borough put the promotion issues to bed once and for all.