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Away victory
Tony McArdle2 Feb - 15:11
Saints remain top after win over a very good Long Eaton team
Round 16, Saints made their first ever trip to West Park, home of Long Eaton rugby club. Although sitting at the wrong end of the table Long Eaton new to the league this season, have a decent squad recently bolstered by overseas players and a walk in the park was not expected.
With a heavy pitch and the rain clouds overhead the lights where on from the start, Long Eaton started strongly their large pack driving up the pitch and making headway in the difficult conditions. Saints stalwart defence held and where awarded a turnover penalty, promptly kicked to within 10 m of the Long Eaton try line, the catch and drive was held up but quick thinking by Lewis Kincart spinning the ball wide where Dan Woods was able to sprint into the corner to open the scoring ,converted by Baldwin 0-7.
Long Eaton again pressured the line, Saints where guilty of denying a try scoring opportunity, yellow card and penalty try to Long Eaton 7-7. With the rain now falling, a great cross field kick was collected by woods to again slide in the corner and with Baldwin converting to give Saints a 7-14 lead. The game now became a midfield battle with the rain hammering down Saints pack started to get on top with better handling and ball retention, Kincart picked the ball from the back of the scrum and with a deft sidestep found himself in the clear 20m where he strolled untouched over the line, Baldwin converted for a 7-21 lead.
However, a spilled ball from the restart saw Long Eaton strike back with a converted try themselves pulling the score back to 14-21. With the rain getting even heavier it was Saints who looked the better team, less handling errors solid scrum and line out moving them into attacking positions it was Kincart who found enough space to go over for 2nd of the game again converted to give Saints a try bonus point and a 14-28 lead at half time.
With the rain easing slightly Saints started the second half with a light wind on their backs, and within 3 minutes Arthur Lennon found space to skirt a couple of players to go over in the corner giving Saints a 14-33 lead as unfortunately the conversion was missed.
Long Eaton continued to attack at every opportunity, with Saints holding firm, both sets of forwards working hard in the difficult wet muddy conditions, both teams had scoring chances, but no more points were scored during the game. Another solid win away for Saints, with six games to go it is going to be tight with Huddersfield just two points behind them.
Rest week sees the next game (14th Feb) at home v Burton the team who drew with us 24 all earlier in the season.
With a heavy pitch and the rain clouds overhead the lights where on from the start, Long Eaton started strongly their large pack driving up the pitch and making headway in the difficult conditions. Saints stalwart defence held and where awarded a turnover penalty, promptly kicked to within 10 m of the Long Eaton try line, the catch and drive was held up but quick thinking by Lewis Kincart spinning the ball wide where Dan Woods was able to sprint into the corner to open the scoring ,converted by Baldwin 0-7.
Long Eaton again pressured the line, Saints where guilty of denying a try scoring opportunity, yellow card and penalty try to Long Eaton 7-7. With the rain now falling, a great cross field kick was collected by woods to again slide in the corner and with Baldwin converting to give Saints a 7-14 lead. The game now became a midfield battle with the rain hammering down Saints pack started to get on top with better handling and ball retention, Kincart picked the ball from the back of the scrum and with a deft sidestep found himself in the clear 20m where he strolled untouched over the line, Baldwin converted for a 7-21 lead.
However, a spilled ball from the restart saw Long Eaton strike back with a converted try themselves pulling the score back to 14-21. With the rain getting even heavier it was Saints who looked the better team, less handling errors solid scrum and line out moving them into attacking positions it was Kincart who found enough space to go over for 2nd of the game again converted to give Saints a try bonus point and a 14-28 lead at half time.
With the rain easing slightly Saints started the second half with a light wind on their backs, and within 3 minutes Arthur Lennon found space to skirt a couple of players to go over in the corner giving Saints a 14-33 lead as unfortunately the conversion was missed.
Long Eaton continued to attack at every opportunity, with Saints holding firm, both sets of forwards working hard in the difficult wet muddy conditions, both teams had scoring chances, but no more points were scored during the game. Another solid win away for Saints, with six games to go it is going to be tight with Huddersfield just two points behind them.
Rest week sees the next game (14th Feb) at home v Burton the team who drew with us 24 all earlier in the season.
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