Round 7 saw Saints travel the short distance to Stockport, previously unbeaten with six out of six wins. Good conditions underfoot and clear bright conditions set the stage for what was going to be a tight game. Saints still struggling from injuries made a couple of changes with the return of Greene and Dodd, with Bowden starting at 10.
From the kick off it was Stockport who were piling on the pressure, Saints defence was solid albeit scrambling at times, with the man in the middle deeming Saints offside on the 22 Port went to the corner. Stout defence kept them out, but with a couple of poor defensive kicks they were still defending constant Port forays into the danger zone and again an infringement saw another penalty on the 22, this time Port went for the sticks and a 3-0 lead.
With Saints starting to gain a bit more ball and the referees arm staying down a bit more a break by Harrison Crowe passed inside to Greene before a reverse pass to Cole on the wing saw him make the corner where he slid in to score, conversion missed but now 3-5. From the restart Port again attacked, with the Saints defence were holding firm until chasing another poor defensive kick, a player slipped leaving a gap to exploit which Port took with much glee, conversion missed but back in the driving seat 8-5.
With a breakout by Dodd after sustained pressure Bailey Smith exploited a gap in the port defensive line with an outstanding run up to the 22 where he slipped the ball to Greene who through an outrageous dummy which fooled the defenders before sprinting over the line converted by Bailey for 8-12 lead. Both teams were going for it now with some stout tackles from both sides, Ben jones caught the ball from a high kick before weaving through the defensive line and passing to Cole on the wing who sprinted for the line, a defender hit him high but he shrugged it off to go over in the corner for his second try of the match conversion missed by Jones who had taken over kicking duties 8-17.
Stockport now went back on the attack again gaining a penalty, chose to kick 11-17. It was all Port now and when a rushed clearance kick failed to find touch Port exploited the broken defence to score under the sticks. With halftime approaching it was a case of Deja vu when another kick from defence failed to find touch, Saints not having a good day with the boot, Port again scored in the corner luckily not converted but giving them a 23-17 halftime lead.
With both teams giving everything a real top of the table battle was on show, with neither team gaining an advantage. With Cotgrave going off for a repair to a cut ear, Saints turned a defensive scrum into an attacking penalty, going to the line out a resulting knock on from Port gave Saints an attacking scrum platform. Saints started to dominate the scrum, and Jones went up the wing to score before cutting up the line to make his kick easier, which he duly slotted between the uprights 23-24 and secure a bonus point at least.
Port were making it a real midfield battle, Saints defensively where pretty solid with fresh legs going on Bonner, Grant and Crowe joining the fray, along with Holmes and the bandaged up Cotgrave. With a long-range penalty on offer Port went for it and the lead again changed hands 26-24.
Saints started to edge the rucks and mauls with Bailey Smith making good decisions and good yardage in attack and some bone crushing collisions in defence, Whittaker went over however the ref agreed with the Port players that it was knocked on, no try.
However back to a penalty and Saints drove up the middle where 10m an infringement gave them a penalty under the sticks, with the game tight Jones slotted the points for a 26-27 lead. Port missed a long-range penalty, and then after another midfield battle where Saints where just edging it with some relief the whistle went for full time.
Great result for Saints at a ground they have struggled at in the past. Much needed week off followed by a home game v Kendal 21st Nov 2.15pm kick off.