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Saints maintain winning streak
Tony McArdle1 Dec 2025 - 16:52
Anselmians made to work hard for their victory against a very good Stockport team.
Round 10 of the league season saw Saints welcome fourth placed Stockport to Eastham, luckily the forecasted heavy rain failed to materialise during the game, but heavy overnight and morning downpours had left the pitch heavy.
It was Stockport who started brightest, their pack are well drilled and are one of the biggest packs in the league, making headway towards the Saints try line only stout defence keeping them out 3 or 4 times. When Saints cleared the ball they finally had chance to move the ball up the pitch with powerful runs from the Crowe brothers and Holmes the ball found its way out to Woods out on the wing who outsprinted the chasing Stockport wing and full back to go over in the corner, with Baldwin missing the conversion 5-0 to the Saints.
From the restart it was again all pressure from Stockport, this game was a true battle of the forwards and with constant pressure, a missed tackle in mid field allowed Stockport to capitalise and score between the sticks with an easy conversion and take the lead 5-7. Saints where making headway on the occasions they had the ball and when they finally managed to get into the Stockport 22 Joe Sanders drove over beside the sticks, converted by Baldwin and give a 12-7 lead.
Just before half time a penalty 25m out saw Port pull it back 12-10, after turning down two previous penalties to go to the corner which were thwarted by the defence of Saints. HT
With the second half starting like the first finished Stockport pressuring the Saints line but unable to breach it, Saints now starting to find some rhythm in their play started to pressure to Stockport line, after numerous attacks and stout defence the ball found its way out to the backs where Olly Dodd slid over the line, converted again by Baldwin for a 19-10 lead and a bit of breathing space.
Saints now had the momentum and pressed hard again with storming runs from Crowe and Nolan, Baldwin slipped the ball wide where Jones danced through two tacklers to score, conversion by Baldwin and the bonus point 26-10. Stockport now threw everything into attack only to be thwarted by Saints, Baldwin calmest man on the field consistently clearing the ball down the field forcing Stockport back over the halfway line. FT
It was Stockport who started brightest, their pack are well drilled and are one of the biggest packs in the league, making headway towards the Saints try line only stout defence keeping them out 3 or 4 times. When Saints cleared the ball they finally had chance to move the ball up the pitch with powerful runs from the Crowe brothers and Holmes the ball found its way out to Woods out on the wing who outsprinted the chasing Stockport wing and full back to go over in the corner, with Baldwin missing the conversion 5-0 to the Saints.
From the restart it was again all pressure from Stockport, this game was a true battle of the forwards and with constant pressure, a missed tackle in mid field allowed Stockport to capitalise and score between the sticks with an easy conversion and take the lead 5-7. Saints where making headway on the occasions they had the ball and when they finally managed to get into the Stockport 22 Joe Sanders drove over beside the sticks, converted by Baldwin and give a 12-7 lead.
Just before half time a penalty 25m out saw Port pull it back 12-10, after turning down two previous penalties to go to the corner which were thwarted by the defence of Saints. HT
With the second half starting like the first finished Stockport pressuring the Saints line but unable to breach it, Saints now starting to find some rhythm in their play started to pressure to Stockport line, after numerous attacks and stout defence the ball found its way out to the backs where Olly Dodd slid over the line, converted again by Baldwin for a 19-10 lead and a bit of breathing space.
Saints now had the momentum and pressed hard again with storming runs from Crowe and Nolan, Baldwin slipped the ball wide where Jones danced through two tacklers to score, conversion by Baldwin and the bonus point 26-10. Stockport now threw everything into attack only to be thwarted by Saints, Baldwin calmest man on the field consistently clearing the ball down the field forcing Stockport back over the halfway line. FT
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