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Saints suffer first defeat
Tony McArdle24 Mar - 10:24
Costly errors see fine run end
Saints’ first loss of the season
Saints’ 20th game of the season saw them away at Stockport Rugby club, warm dry conditions, and an excellent pitch, which hadn’t been cut too short greeted the travelling faithful.
Things started badly with the experienced Ben Jones off after one minute due to injury, it was all Port using their pack to pile pressure on Saints not helped by poor handling by the Saints backs which resulted in Port going in under the sticks to open the scoring 7-0 closely followed by another try in the corner with the ball going through the hands of the Port backs after another spilled ball, not converted but leaving Saints -12-0 down.
Saints through a couple of breaks by Nolan and Crowe started to make some headway into the game, applying pressure on the Port line, with Clarke being held up by the defenders, Saints were unable to cross the whitewash with the very solid defence of the Port pack. Again, Port were pounding the Saints line, solid defence from the Saints thwarting several attacks before breaking out, unfortunately a wayward pass was easily intercepted on the halfway line allowing Port to run in a try under the sticks 19-0 HT.
Saints started the 2nd half well with Harrison Crowe catching the eye with some thunderous defensive tackles and a couple of breaks, with a scrum attack on the 22 it was youngster Dan woods who found enough space crossing from midfield to the right wing to outpace the defenders and score unfortunately the conversion missed 19-5.
With both packs pounding one another in the midfield, Saints looked like they were finding some momentum decent line out and scrum, with Woods again with a great chip and chase to score under the sticks this time converted to bring the score to 19-12.
With solid defence it was small margins that won the game for Stockport, Saints making too many mistakes, poor handling, failing to make touch, missed tackles it was a good performance for Stockport and a deserved win putting them fourth in the league. Saints drop to second after Huddersfield’s big win 94 - 22 win over Manchester.
Next week last home game of the season v Derby 3pm kick off.
Saints’ 20th game of the season saw them away at Stockport Rugby club, warm dry conditions, and an excellent pitch, which hadn’t been cut too short greeted the travelling faithful.
Things started badly with the experienced Ben Jones off after one minute due to injury, it was all Port using their pack to pile pressure on Saints not helped by poor handling by the Saints backs which resulted in Port going in under the sticks to open the scoring 7-0 closely followed by another try in the corner with the ball going through the hands of the Port backs after another spilled ball, not converted but leaving Saints -12-0 down.
Saints through a couple of breaks by Nolan and Crowe started to make some headway into the game, applying pressure on the Port line, with Clarke being held up by the defenders, Saints were unable to cross the whitewash with the very solid defence of the Port pack. Again, Port were pounding the Saints line, solid defence from the Saints thwarting several attacks before breaking out, unfortunately a wayward pass was easily intercepted on the halfway line allowing Port to run in a try under the sticks 19-0 HT.
Saints started the 2nd half well with Harrison Crowe catching the eye with some thunderous defensive tackles and a couple of breaks, with a scrum attack on the 22 it was youngster Dan woods who found enough space crossing from midfield to the right wing to outpace the defenders and score unfortunately the conversion missed 19-5.
With both packs pounding one another in the midfield, Saints looked like they were finding some momentum decent line out and scrum, with Woods again with a great chip and chase to score under the sticks this time converted to bring the score to 19-12.
With solid defence it was small margins that won the game for Stockport, Saints making too many mistakes, poor handling, failing to make touch, missed tackles it was a good performance for Stockport and a deserved win putting them fourth in the league. Saints drop to second after Huddersfield’s big win 94 - 22 win over Manchester.
Next week last home game of the season v Derby 3pm kick off.
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