St Neots RUFC 1st XV – Saints Match Report – 25/01/2020 – Bedford Queens vs Saints

Saturday afternoon saw a more familiar Saints side travel to nearby opponents Bedford Queens. An important fixture for the two sides to strengthen their positions in the league table given their proximity of standings.
It was the Saints who started off with the lion’s share of possession and momentum. Saints collected the initial kick off cleanly and set about imposing their game plan to go forward through accurate play from the pack. Scrum half, Adam Hadfield and Fly half Joe Woodgate (C) demonstrated their leadership qualities in the early exchanges to steer the Saints higher up the field from some quick play tactics and a clear direction of attack.

Despite the promising start and persistent efforts made in the set piece, Queens responded to infringements made by St Neots creating 4 tries in the first half from an all familiar approach by the home side. Only 3 points were put on the scoreboard from the boot of Joe Woodgate for Saints.

Clear messages discussed at half time, saw a more consistent and confident Saints side in the second half. The Saints looked far more formidable in defence than the score line suggested, putting in several positive tackles from the likes of Callum Austen, Aiden Jordan and Ross Hubbard.

Queens picked up two more tries in the half, however Saints’ pressure soon turned into points. Joe ‘Lizard’ Woodgate found winger Phil Shire with a kick into space only for him to regather possession and toe his way in from the opposition 10m line. The Saints looked threatening with every passage of play from here and looked to capitalise from their consistent set piece, particularly the scrum. The pack’s efforts paid off nicely after forcing Queens back on their heels, only for No. 8 Jordan Rook to break off the back of the scrum to dot down Saints’ second.

The competitive edge in defence was noticeably the starting point for their 3rd try scored by Aiden Jordan, after Matt Davies forced a knock on from Queens in a chop tackle. Davies regathered the ball and proceeded up field in a typical break for the loose head prop and put in Aiden Jordan. The flanker still had some ground to make himself before producing some trademark footwork and cross the whitewash.

Saints secured a fourth try for the bonus point and clawing it back to within a five-point margin for another bonus point but couldn’t use the final minutes to secure a winning try which they undoubtedly deserved in the second half, finishing the game 31-36. Saints come back home at the weekend to face Rushden & Higham.