A second half blitz and strong defensive display helped Saints to their first opening day league win since 2022. The Blue and Gold held off a strong newly promoted UCS outfit who came into the game off the back of sixteen straight victories in 2023/24. Despite some forced injury changes and ten minutes with 14 men towards the end of the game, Saints emerged victorious at the final whistle.

Co-captain Josh Shepherd spoke after the game:
"I thought we did really really well, for a team coming to us sixteen games unbeaten, we took the game to them and stepped up the intensity at the start of the second forty. The last ten minutes defensive effort, no amount of pre season can replicate that, the volume of work the boys got through. Really buzzing to get off to a winning start and on to next week".

Director of Rugby George Elliott also gave his thoughts:
"That first half was a bit touch and go, I know no points were scored but it was quite pleasing, especially from a coaching point of view how we were slowly settling into the game, playing in the right areas and territory. The start of the second half we really showed that all of that extra work, that extra fitness that we have been doing in pre season was tested and we came out on top".

The first half was a tale of the defenses with both sides having ample opportunity to score only for the rare guard to hold firm. UCS got the upper hand in the early scrums whilst Saints lineout was working well, much improved from the previous weekend. The opening score of the game came in the second half, Saints started to get parity in the scrums and then following some tactical changes to the set piece started to slowly push back the visiting pack. From a scrum in the UCS 22, Saints edged closer to line, scrum half Joe Picariello took the ball and dummied a pass before going over. Extras added by Will Taylor.

Saints struck again a few minutes later, creating space out wide Tom Toland ran towards the try line but was tackled just short by the covering defender, however, he was was able to pop the ball to Joe Murphy who ran in for the second try of the game. Extras added from Will Taylor once more. Saints had a chance to push on but a mistake from the restart enabled the visitors to go in under the posts before Saints stretched the lead once more to twelve points, Will Batchelor going over from a driving maul.

Saints were reduced to 14 with twelve minutes to play, Joe Murphy sent to the bin for a high tackle. The hosts were robust in defense, although eventually UCS created a chance and went over in the corner from a cross field kick. Murphy returned with a couple of minutes to play and Saints saw out the last minute with a resolute display in their own half.

The Howden Insurance St Albans Man of the Match was Jack Dempsey for a superb performance.