St Neots 29-31 Rushden & Higham

After a frustrating frost struck again St Neots 1XV were back at home facing R&H. After losing by a small margin last time Saints were enthused about an opportunity at redemption. It was Saints who struck first with Sam Hitchen getting the better of his man after picking at the base of a ruck and turning on the gas. With only 20m left to run he drew in the full back and passed it to regular try-scorer Bradley McKenna.

Rushden were quick to respond, after a turnover by Saints the ball bounced unpredictably and was swept up by the Rushden seccond row. As the blue defence scrambled back to recover the ball it was moved out into the centres where missed tackles allowed them under the posts.

A frustrated St Neots didn't take long to put themselves back in front. A successful set piece lead to a hole being punched through the midfield. Saints players overlapped to the other side of the pitch and the numbers were overwhelming for defenders. Fly-half Joshua Spearing picked the correct line and fed James Larman through the gap. Not more than 5 minutes later, the tightly contested match continued to provide as Rushden were back in. A chip and chase from the winger put him in front of the try line with little to do but dive over the line.

So far the match was a tightly contested back-and-forth scoring competition. Rushden ended the pattern when they were given penalty advantage deep into the first half. With the risk of losing the ball now gone they kicked into the St Neots red zone. The ball was regathered and it was all too much for a scrambling defence to stop.

With the half coming to the close an impatient defender from Rushden committed a simple breakdown mistake. Saints chose to go for for the sticks to bring the game within two points leading into the second half.

Half time 17-19

In the second half both teams were looking to take a more comfortable lead. Saints danger man McKenna needed no reminding of where to go when a sudden change of possession gave him space around the outside. He stepped his opponent in merely a meter of space and there's no catching him as he put Saints in the lead. Rushden were no quitters and put the pressure on Saints forcing them to kick clear of their lines. But the back line found space around the far edge and snuck in for another. The scores remained close as they crossed the 60 minute mark.

Just a few moments later Rushden were back on the attack, but Sam Hitchin had other ideas as he reclaimed the ball for the blues and found Aiden Jordan in space out wide. With winger McKenna outside of him and two players to beat Jordan took on his opposite man, knocking him to the floor and allowed McKenna more space to work. Unexpectedly the ball found itself back in Aiden's hands as McKenna drew and gave. He finished the try and Saints were back in top.

Rushden was struggling to find a response and there was 10 minutes left for them to dig deep. They were handed an advantage when the ref saw no mitigation in a head contact made on the Rushden winger, who had significantly dropped his height in the contact. Captain Jordan yellow carded and Saints were left without a front row and so come scrum time it was 13 vs 15.

St. Neots held on right until the last moments. But with the scores close it wasnt until the final play of the game where they found themselves failing to hold off the attack. Rushden and Higham scored and took it at the last.