A game of two halves!

The first League outing of the season nearly ends in disaster, but a sparkling second half gives Saints a bonus point win.

St Albans travelled to Southgate for their first fixture of the new season, away to Saracens Amateurs.

The first forty minutes of the game proved a real wake up call for the Saints as Saracens flew out of the blocks and by half time had a 22 point lead. St. Albans couldn’t get on the scoreboard and looked shell shocked with little promise as to how they could get back into the game. Their woes were further compounded with the loss, to injury of Richard Hope, the Saints fly half, midway through the first period.

Whatever was said in the half time team talk it had a galvanising effect on the St. Albans players and from the off they began to play with commitment and purpose. Saracens received a “yellow card” for persistent infringement, and shortly afterwards Saints were rewarded with a try from replacement fly half, George Elliott, Harry Trude added the conversion.

Saints kept up the pressure and momentum with Saracens collecting another “yellow card” for offside offences. Further Saints try’s came from Brent Lemiere, Ryan Clarke and Fraser Morris as St. Albans asserted themselves into a winning position. Saints captain Tony Stevenson lead from the front with Ross Taylor and Shaun Rafter having fine games. The whole team played with determination and showed resolve that had been sadly lacking in the first half.

It was a terrific second half, but lessons will need to be learned before next Saturday’s home fixture with old rivals Hitchin RFC.