St Neots RUFC Senior Men – Match Report – 04/12/2021 – St Neots 1st XV Saints vs Bedford Swifts 1stXV

Saints welcomed an as yet unbeaten Bedford Swifts to a windy but sunny common for a local derby that was set to be the game of the season to date.

Saints were well prepared for the fixture with a strong side of large mobile forwards, a back line of the usual pretty boy racing snakes and a solid imposing bench. All held together with the sticky glue of Lewis Hall at 8, Jack Webb at 9 and Matt Halliday at 10. The whole thing nicely stirred up by captain Aiden Jordan with a pre game speech that as usual didn’t fail to hit the spot.

A favourable toss allowing Saints to play with the wind and the sun at their backs and they were ready.

Saints came out the blocks like a greyhound. Solid pod work cutting swathes into Swifts defence allowing the backs to do their thing. Saints were quickly rewarded with a try from Bradley McKenna jinking through players after some quick hands and a tidy lay off from James Larman. Converted effortlessly by Lewis Hall.

A second try minutes later from Rory “Royal” Dingemans intercepting a poor pass from the Swifts 9 tightened the screw and Swifts appeared visibly rattled. A second conversion increasing Saints lead.

Saints continued to dominate every aspect of the game from this point, stealing ball at the lineout, dominating the scrums and defending as if Piers was on the touchline watching and taking notes and planning reprisals. Strong running from Raf Magana, Chris Routley, Nick Ashford and Ross Hubbard making vital yardage. This disciplined play was capitalised by Lewis Hall quickly securing the ball from the back of a scrum and passing to Larman running a strong line at pace and blagging try number 3.

Saints continued to pile on the pressure denying Swifts any passage of play. Solid scrummaging from the tight 8 allowing Webby to wing the ball out once again finding McKenna hungry for the ball and securing his brace of tries. Once again Lewis Hall securing the conversion with his usual aplomb and nonchalance.

Huge tackles from the usual suspects of Ross Hubbard, Pete Sharp and Aiden Jordan set the tone for the remainder of the first half. Club vulture Phil Sandling using his spectre like skills to notch up try no 5 after a nice offload from the floor. Saints finished the first half with 5 in the bag and a satisfying Nil Point [Say it in a French Accent] for the visitors.

Second half saw Saints with the sun in their eyes and the stiff breeze in their faces. Swifts had clearly had a word with themselves and came back with a renewed urgency. Identifying that their forwards were not breaking their opposite numbers they went out wide and were rewarded by some sound forward phases of play. Saints now began to pick up injuries and the bench were out in force. Rhod Howcroft, Ben Carley, Jordan Rook, Joe Woodgate and Alex Ramwell all taking to the field and making themselves known to the opposition in their own unique ways.

Swifts capitalising on the windy conditions in their favour, notched up 2 further tries and Saints temporarily went off the boil. Stern words from Aiden Jordan and the fear of a potential Tuesday punishment beasting from Wakers and the lads were back.

More sublime passing and running lines saw Larman pop the ball to Aiden Jordan running a fierce line and making serious ground. This allowed the Lizard form of Joe Woodgate to secure the ball and sling it out to George [Not hungover this week] Osborne running in try number 6.

Saints 7th try followed minutes later with a beautiful run from Pete Sharp from Saints 22 out past the half way taking several Swifts players with him. Aiden Jordan slipping the ball to Larman to secure his second try of the game.

With minutes left on the clock Saints continued to pour on the pressure keen to secure the elusive 8th try. Consistent phase play from the lads in blue dragging all but one the Swifts over the right of the pitch exposing pretty much the whole park to the left of the posts. This was quickly identified by Larman with a long looping pass finding the ever reliable paws of Nick Ashford out wide on the left, who was surely in for his debut try of the season, with only one prop to beat. But no. Rather than steal this glory for himself Ashford attempted to gift the ball out to McKenna screaming in the wind. However by some strange act of God the wind must’ve massively changed direction for a brief second with Ashfords pass sailing forward much to his chagrin.

Final whistle and a final score of 52-19. Saints elated. Swifts deflated. Once again a solid performance by a well drilled side, ever developing and moving forward. Its is clear that the side that train together are beginning to reap the benefits of their dedication. Man of the match Phil Sandling