It was a bitterly cold, dry Boxing day morning when the ice wind gnawed with teeth of glass greeted the Saltash players, current and former to take to the field in what was a highly entertaining match.

The Coaches Select took the field in the Ashes Change kit of predominantly white shirts and the Presidents XV in the traditional Black, Red and Gold jerseys.

From the start, both sides showed their intent to play an expansive open game with prop Liall Honey opening the scoring in the white shirt with a try on 4 minutes, converted by fly half Dylan Davies.

Presidents responded with 2 tries from former Albion and Redruth player Jack Wickham, then a touchdown for Jim Moriarty to take a 17-7 lead on 14 minutes.

The lads in White weren’t done, and were rewarded as centre Andrew Walsh put in a sublime long pass out on the left for wing Tom Knight to score on 20 minutes, which they added to on 25 minutes with a belligerent score from sub Steve Kelly to edge in front at 19-17 with Davies adding a conversion.

The Presidents XV added further scores before the break with Wickham adding his third, followed by makeshift wing Lewis Wells going over following a break from wing Jake Gamble to nudge in front at the break 27-19.

The half time refreshments had an impact on the Coaches team as they scored through Andy Walsh, then another for Davies, which he converted for a 31-27 lead.

The Ding-dong battle continued with a President’s score for former Ivybridge player Kristian Davis, then a Coaches’ XV try from Lewis Woolaway and Davies bouncing the kick off the upright for a 38-32 lead.

There were further tries for the Presidents team through Ryan Simmons (2), Wickham for his 4th of the day and for the Coaches XV there were scores from wing Tris Hills, Fred Dover and Charlie Knight, and a further conversion from Davies to seal the 55-49 win.

The crowd retired with alacrity to the shed for a warming cold beer.