Saints got their league campaign back on track on Saturday afternoon with a hard fought bonus point victory against Chess Valley.

With only nine teams in the league this season, Saints came into the match off the back of a three week break, a rarity for November. The pack was shuffled with Chris Jones unavailable and Lyle Ross out with a concussion. Alec Lawrence was forced to withdraw in the morning due to his mother's involvement in a car accident. Everyone at the club sends their best wishes and hope that she is alright.

In came Tony Stevenson at 8, returning for his first game following the birth of his second child. Dan Toland moved up into the second row alongside co-captain Osian Rees and Jack Dempsey returned at hooker. On the bench, Calum Dow came into the squad to make his 1st XV debut, following in his father Kiers' footsteps.

Saints got off to a fast start and applied the pressure early. Despite the heavy rainfall in the week and in the morning, the skies cleared for kick off and the pitch held firm enabling both teams to play running rugby.

Co-captain Josh Shepherd contributed 25 points, bagging himself a hat-trick - the third player to do so at home this season. It was Shepherd who got the first try of the contest, powering over from close range before converting. His second was a standout moment of the match as the team displayed their handling skills and link play. Shepherd took the ball off the shoulder of Lewis Dempsey before offloading to Patrick who broke the first tackle, lifting the ball to Billy Griffiths who cut inside the first man and popped to Shepherd to run in under the posts. Easy extras added.

Fraser Morris finished the third try in the corner nearest the clubhouse, running off the inside shoulder of Tony Stevenson to break the defense on the halfway line and round the full back. It was then a foot race between the veteran and the covering 10 who made the tackle on the try line. The flanker was able to wriggle free and dot the ball down for a memorable score. We believe he is still recovering from the sprint today!

The visitors pulled a try back with some quick play finished out wide before Saints secured the bonus point try just before the break. Full back Tom Toland scoring on his return to the team, extras added by Sheppo.

With the half time scoreline similar to that against Huel Tring in the previous fixture, Saints were determined that history should not repeat itself. The instructions from the coaching team were about composure and maintaining the attacking intensity.

The second half was more even with the majority of the play in the middle third. Both teams had opportunities to score only to be cancelled out by the defense. Chess Valley got the first try of the half but Saints kept applying the pressure, eventually getting their fifth score as Sheppo completed his hat trick. Chess Valleys lineout went long and the loose ball was picked up by Sion McGregor who tipped to Ollie Stevenson crashing through from the blindside. Saints worked a phase towards the post, Sheppo spotting a gap in the defense to dot down by the sticks, extras added.

The visitors scored their third with the final play of the game. Harry Hudnott was the Howden St Albans Man of the Match for his fantastic all-round display at 7.

Post-match, Head Coach Jack Stevenson praised the team performance:

"Fantastic work from the team today. In particular the decision making, calling and dynamic clearing at ruck time. The discipline was exceptional to only concede two offside penalties, something we have worked on a lot at training over the last three weeks.

It was great to see the return of our powerful running game with some effective passing out of contact. All great stuff that we need to replicate next Saturday."

Saints next home game is the Christmas Lunch fixture against Datchworth on Saturday 13th December.

But next week, Saturday 6th December, the 1XV are on the road to face Letchworth 1924s at Legends Lane.