Saints pass a tough test!

St. Albans continued their improved form with a second consecutive league win, afte their visit to the Linford Christie Stadium, Acton, the home ground of London Nigerian RFC.

Saints started brightly enough, but it was the hosts who looked the more menacing, securing the majority of possession early on and testing the visitors defence. The strong running London Nigerian backs were thwarted time after time by Saints' tenacious tackling. The visitors looked dangerous when they did get ball in hand and after a couple of forays into opposition territory, Saints were awarded a penalty, confidently accepted by full-back Mark Kentish. Midway through the half, they doubled their lead when again the home side fell foul of the referee and Kentish struck again.

This seemed to spur the home side into life and a sustained period of attacks deep into Saints territory resulted in Saints conceding a penalty under the posts. Expecting the kick at goal, Saints went to sleep and the quick thinking Nigerians half-back spun the ball out to where the hosts had a multiple overlap. With the conversion made the home side had the lead and the remaining few minutes of the half was really even-stevens.

As the half drew to a close, St. Albans were awarded a penalty well within Kentish's range, but captain Martin Alderton instructed Kentish to 'kick for the corner'. From the ensuing lineout, Saints worked the catch & drive to perfection. Lock Fraser Morris securing the ball at the front before the surge from the pack. Flanker Tony Stevenson was on hand to crash over the line for Saints first try. As Kentish's kicked narrowly drifted wide of the uprights, the referee blew for halftime. Ultimately, that score proved the pivotal point of the game.

Although the second period began with the sides still evenly balanced, Saints started to exert authority in the set-pieces particularly and this seemed to drain the intensity from the hosts loose play. Another catch & drive this time saw Tom Styles on the end of the driving maul and although Kentish saw his conversion attempt come back off the posts, this took the score to 7-16, giving Saints some daylight. London Nigerians' backs physically always looked a threat but they were now being starved of possession and they became increasingly frustrated by the visitors mammoth hits, often spilling the ball as they had one eye on the on-rushing defence.

During the closing minutes, Saints really upped their game, the home side now looking a beaten team. Yet another catch & drive was played out, this time the home sides defence held firm. Scrum half Alex Deane spun the ball out superbly to Alderton at stand off and a training ground move between Joe Grove and Duncan Sharp in midfield resulted in Kentish cutting through the hosts defensive line like a hot knife through butter. Saints pack were now in complete control at scrum time and from their third consecutive take 'against the head' they drove the 8 metres for a pushover try, poached by Deane at 9 as no.8 Dave Scanlan was ready to pounce. This score gave Saints a fully deserved 4 try bonus point. The last passage of play saw a now exuberant Saints attacking with classic link up play between forwards and backs. Kentish and Pengilly combined skilfully out wide. The move looked like it would end with a quality score as Scanlan went over the try line only for the referee to deem 'held up' over the line.

Saints welcome UCSOB to Boggymead next week, their cause now looking much more promising, with the team gelling and key players still to be welcomed back.

St. Albans XV:- Kentish, Satchell, Grove, Sharp, Moskofian, Alderton, Deane. Hayes, Hume, Lemiere, Morris, Gorman, Stevenson, Bridle, Scanlan. reps. Weldon, Styles, Pengilly.