Saints pack dominates to secure back-to-back wins

Saturday saw a Saints side take to the field in search of back-to-back wins in this division for the first time since December 2014. Rushden and Higham RUFC were their opponents on what was a fine day for rugby at the Common.

Rushden started well, scoring early on by utilising their astonishing pace out wide. They did the same again a few minutes later, a carbon copy of their first score but this time rounding the defence and placing down under the posts – 0-12 after 20 mins. It wasn’t long before Saints identified the one trick that this Rushden pony had and smart adjustments in defensive speed in the centres left Rushden looking for alternative tactics – it wasn’t long before Saints started to pick up some momentum, attacking without the ball and making positive movements up the field. Running into a strong breeze, Jordan Rook set off after breaking through the initial contact from the Rushden defence and defied physical odds to make it up the 15m channel from half-way up to the opposition 22. When Rook was halted, Dan Court carved a spectacular support line and only just got held up 3m short of the line, where he found Rook, again in close support, to collect the short pop pass and crash over the line. Lewis Hall added the extras. 7-12.

Rushden responded quickly, making steady progress upfield by utilising their hard running back-row combinations. You guessed it – their openside winger completed his hat-trick in the corner after a clever grubber kick bamboozled the Saints defence. Conversion missed. 7-17. Under the posts, Saints questioned their desire to cover defensively and retain the ball instead of throwing possession away. No time to panic, it was still early in the game and conditions would have suited Saints in the second half.

Rushden scored again, close to the half-time whistle and converted to take the score to 7-24. Any regular supporter of the Saints would have been expecting the traditional lack of resilience of their last league campaign in Midlands 3 East South but they were sadly mistaken. From the last kick-off of the half, Tom Beech collected the ball, rising high above the opposition to create the platform for Saints to attack. Hard carries from Aiden Jordan, Rhod Howcroft and Ross Hubbard took Saints up the right hand side of the opposition 22. Quick hands and straight lines from Lewis Hall and Callum Austen created an overlap on the other side of the field and Tom Beech finished off the move he had started. From out wide, Hall narrowly missed his conversion attempt and the half-time whistle blew – 12-24 at the break…could Saints find something extra in the favourable conditions of the second half?

The Saints lineout was enjoying its best day for a long time, winning opposition ball as well as their own which favoured the boot of both Grant Hobbs and Lewis Hall. Dominating territory and possession against the proficiencies of Rushden at the break down, Saints looked to capitalise on the high penalty count and poor discipline of their counterparts. Aiden Jordan, who was enjoying yet another fine game in the forwards, kept causing problems for the opposition defence. With short carries at the base of each ruck from Adam and Jack Hayward creating quick ball, Grant Hobbs released Rhod Howcroft on a more ‘traditionally direct’ line to drag 4 Rushden defenders with him over the line and dotting down just to the right of the posts. Hall added the extras – 19-24. Tensions were building. The Rushden and Higham travelling support could sense the pressure and were already chastising their team. Saints caught the sniff of blood on the wind and went after the win they felt their performance deserved.

Superb defence by Callum Austen and James Dean, making his Saints debut, contained the wide play of Rushden that had caused the Saints so many problems in the first half. Winning countless penalties against the run of play with smart breakdown work and poor discipline in the tackle from R&H, Saints closed in on their opposition try-line. A quick tap penalty from Howcroft gathered more momentum and when he was stopped just short of the line, quick work from Will Smith at scrum-half released Ross Hubbard on an intelligent line through the 9/10 channel and he touched down, unopposed, under the posts. Lewis Hall again added the extras and Saints had the lead for the first time in the match. More great work from the back row, including a pivotal tackle from Aedan Pearsall, kept Saints on the front foot in defence. Running out of options, Rushden started to test the midfield defenders by running more direct lines in attack. Hitting big and winning collisions had Saints feeling positive, turning over possession yet again on their own 22, Will Smith put the ball into touch from the resulting breakdown. The final whistle rang around the Common. Saints 26-24 Rushden and Higham.

Skipper and winning try scorer Ross Hubbard had this to say:

“We didn’t prepare particularly well for this fixture before the game today. We were lackadaisical, cocky and lazy and that showed in the opening exchanges. Thankfully, as a team of leaders, everybody took it upon themselves to dig deep at the turn and come away with an extremely satisfying win at home. We were forced into early changes having lost Nick Ashford and Johnny Berwick to injury but Daniel Miller and Aedan Pearsall played out of their skin. Another special mention for Jordan Rook who seems to be building in confidence every game this season and is finally making the most of his early potential. We have another cup game next week, at home, that will hopefully let us continue to build on the momentum we’ve gathered recently”.