The Saints travelled to Stockwood Park on a blustery Saturday and won the toss to play into a very strong first half wind. Saints started well in spite of the elemental disadvantage, stoic defending and phase building possession kept Stockwood Park at bay for the early exchanges. A lot of the half was played in Saints 22, the wind offering great options to the home side’s half-back pairing who repeatedly pinned the Saints back in their third. A dubious penalty was conceded after Ross Hubbard’s excellent chop tackle was deemed to have been made with no arms. From the following set piece Stockwood Park opened their account. 7-0.

Two more scores followed in similar fashion for the home side. First a penalty, then another converted score. With Saints falling away from the game as early as 35 minutes, Aiden Jordan picked up the ball with intent on the left side of the field. A typically explosive, hissing, hot stepping trundle saw him break clear of the Stockwood Park defence and pass inside to ever present in support pack leader Matt Cartwright who happily crossed the line unopposed. Joe Woodgate added the extras thanks to a horrible connection (shank, lucky shank). 22-5 at the break. Jordan Rook comes off for Joe Sales (vaginal tear).

Before the kick off Saints spoke of the extra wind in their sails coming down the hill with the gale behind them but chose to keep the ball in hand, surprising the home side by not choosing to kick to the corner at every opportunity. Ross Hubbard was enjoying a fine game with the ball in hand and eventually received support in the loose from Johnny Berwick, Matt Davies and Nick Ashford. Quick ball was generated by consistently breaking the defensive line and after great work by Callum Austen, Rory Dingemans arrived on the shoulder and beat the winger and full back to open his account for the day. Woodgate kicked cleanly (for a change) to make it 22-14.

Saints had recognised the blitz defence that was being employed by the home side. Close supporting lines and passes being made at the gainline were giving the Saints great returns in midfield. An uncharacteristic handling error out wide allowed Stockwood Park to nick a score in the corner against the run of play. 27-14.

A quick chat under the posts and a change made in the front row saw Adam Hayward take the field in place of Karl Sinclair who had shown unbelievable strength for 60 minutes to overpower his opposite number in spite of a hefty weight disadvantage. The Saints weren’t changing their tactics and continued to spread the ball wide out of contact and Austen again released Dingemans out wide, who stepped and jinked his way to score in the right corner. Woodgate, having dusted off his kicking boots in recent weeks, added the extras from the touch line. 27-21.

Shortly after kick off, in what could have been a catastrophic refereeing faux pas, a high tackle on Aiden Jordan gave Saints a penalty in front of the home side’s posts. Having been informed at that moment by the referee that the score was 22-21 to the home side with 4 minutes remaining, Woodgate gathered his composure and slotted the 3 points. An apology on the halfway line from the referee allowed the Saints to regroup and understand the new target. Score at all costs.

Having replaced stalwart Nick Ashford, Rhod Howcroft collected the kick off and set about unsettling a tired defence. Further carries from Howcroft, Berwick, Hubbard and Matt Davies garnered some momentum for the Saints and Austen found Dan Court on the wing with a characteristically accurate pass. Court beat the first defender, exchanged passes with Dingemans, committed the full back and passed back in field for Dingemans to finish the move of the game off. Captain Joe Woodgate missed the final conversion of the game but it was inconsequential as the final whistle echoed around the park. Saints had overturned a seventeen point deficit in the second half to keep their survival campaign alive.

Final score: Stockwood Park 27-29 Saints.