Young Saints come good

Following a steep Learning curve in the previous friendlies, the young Saints took to the field in their first league outing of the season which saw them host Northampton Casuals. With a strong wind and Captain Lawrie Pashley out through injury, it was stand in skipper Harley Rowe who led the team onto the field with the wind at their backs to kick off. Straight away Casuals decided they would try and use their size to batter through the middle, this was a mistake and Saints 12 Joe Hitchin helped the Casuals player find this out by making possibly the best first collision I have seen in many years. Not to be put off that easily Casuals tried the same again, this time using a front row forward who was again sat down by Rowe in the mid field. Some fantastic kicking from hand from Saints 10 Cameron McCollin gave good field position, but it was the incisive running of centre Zak Holmes who broke the deadlock at the 20 minute mark, going over on the right hand side after some good work at the breakdown from the forwards giving clean ball for the backs to spread it wide. More midfield brutality from both sides added to the well contested contest. Breaks from winger Joe Bottomley deserved scores but some great last ditch defence from Casuals kept it to 5-0. Finally just before the break, a turnover at the lineout by Rowe and an Ellis Genge'esc run saw Saints deep in the Casuals 22, some good breakdown work again gave the chance for the ball to be swept wide for Flanker Jay Lilley to touch down in the corner. McCollin added the extras .
HT 12-0
As the 2nd half started Saints found themselves defending in their own half, partly due to the wind and partly due to some ill discipline at the ruck. Casuals however didn't look like breaching the solid Saints defence. the next 20 minutes was tit for tat in the midfield until Saints high penalty count cost the field position and the found themselves defending 5m out from their own line. Phase after phase of solid defensive work finally took its toll and Casuals crashed over from close range. 12-7. Saints spent the next 10 minutes in Casuals 22 but couldn't quite convert with Joe Hitchin, Nathan Mccormack and Seth Thomas all going close but to no avail. Final score 12-7.

Work to do but great performance from this impressive Saints side, it shows what talent we have at our club, the spirit and intensity that these young men played with never fails to astound me. A great start and more to come!!!!