The game was billed as the battle for 2nd place with a home tie in the playoffs looming large. It was there for the taking by either side and proved to be a very close encounter despite what the scoreline suggests.

The opening encounters were tough featuring strong defence on show. Each side had early chances, both being held up over the line and the Giants forced into touch with the line begging.

It was Southampton who opened the scoring through Jarrad Hayler, when the ball was shipped left to put him in. The score remain 0 – 6 until near half time when Southampton broke and fed Laurence Warren-West who went the length from the 20 metre restart.

It was 0 – 12 at half time and still up for grabs. The memorable moment coming when Knox Ligaiviu smashed a Southampton player in two ala Brian Lima.

10 minutes into the second half a Scott Tristram grubber was collected and place down by the returning Rich Crowe, though the conversion was missed.

Southampton further extended the lead through Laurence Warren-West’s second, having created a 3-on-1 overlap. Guildford weren’t done and kept pressing, a repeat set on the Southampton line creating an opportunity out wide. Unfortunately the pass didn’t quite reach its intended target and Mike Thomas picked the ball up and ran 90 metres to extend the lead to 24 – 4.

It only galvanised the Giants some more as they knew they had to respond. Things looked brighter when Knox Ligaiviu sprinting down the right flank managed to step two defenders to score, 8 – 24.

Things would get harder with 2 Giants and 1 Southampton player binned in separate incidents being the game would end 11 v 12. Southampton took advantage of the space and scored after passing wide and breaking the Guildford tackle.

The Giants still mustered a final attack with the ball being on the 10m line when Matt Manning went down with a knee injury and the referee called time on the match.