Sat 9 Sep 2023
Another Saturday. Another local derby. Under sweltering conditions Stags headed down to the A1 to St Neots.
The home side controlled all of the play for the first ten minutes, scoring two quick tries through their outside backs. It was a show of intent for things to come, with St Neots opting to get the ball wide at every opportunity and Stags scrambling to defend.
Stags first visit into the hosts half resulted in a nicely taken try to Steven Chantler from a very effective catch and drive. Owain Collard was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Stags were quickly back into St Neots territory, and when Collard danced through a hole in midfield and dotted down under the sticks, he left himself with an easy conversion to tie the game up at 12-12.
On the twenty minute mark, St Neots once again broke down the right to score and take the lead once again. From the next kick-off, some poor tackling saw St Neots head straight back and score a second in as many minutes.
Stags reduced the lead once again through a Sammy Johnson try following sustained pressure from the forwards on the St Neots line, however the last scoring play of the half saw a fifth try for the hosts to give them a 31-17 half time lead.
Stags had lost Will Gunney shortly before half time to a bloody nose, and lost Collard to a head knock, so the ranks were reshuffled at half time. Stags failed to exit from a second half kick off, which allowed St Neots a quick score to extend their lead.
As was the case for most of the afternoon, Stags were behind but showed character to mount a comeback. On the six minute mark Barney West broke down the left flank, handing of several would-be tacklers to score in the corner. The conversion from Joe Hicken hit the post.
Stags pressed on and sustained pressure on the St Neots line saw Will Gould crash over in the corner. The score now at 38-27 and a clear swing in momentum gave the visitors hope.
On the 20 minute mark, Stags forwards were once again laying siege to the St Neots line, however after a quick turnover and defensive bomb which Stags failed to deal with, St Neots went the length of the field for what looked like a “fourteen point try”.
On the 35 minute mark, after several reset scrums on the hosts five meter line it looked for all money captain Wayne Bradley would score from number eight, however, the referee stole his thunder and awarded a penalty try.
The last play of the game saw St Neots cross over once more and seal a 57-34 point win.
Leading light Coach Leader looked to take the positives from the game, saying “I look to take the positives from the game”
“We showed plenty of spirit to keep getting back into the game and with twenty to go we were right in there.”
“We were killed by St Neots offloading game, and in general we made too many mistakes so those are things we can certainly work on this week.
“Its not an excuse but injuries certainly took their toll today too. When we lost Northy to a pulled hammy, or maybe sunstroke judging by his hat when he came off, we had to put our hooker Nathan Gibson out on the wing. He had played brilliantly in the first half, and this proved the point that front rowers are generally the most skillful, creative and adaptive players on the pitch.” mused Leader.
Captain Wayne Bradley praised the efforts of the forwards, saying, “I think we probably edged it in the tight play, particularly mauls and scrums.”
“It’s a shame the score board will show a penalty try, as the seven men in front of me deserve all the credit for their efforts in the scrum.”
“It got really sweaty, and hot, out there and injuries meant we couldn’t rotate some of our big boys so to still be putting in shifts like that at the end then they deserve some credit.”
“Unfortunately though there were too many times we were not working hard enough off the ball, and that proved to be our downfall against a team who wanted to throw it around” concluded Bradley.
The man of the match award wen to Charlie Saunders, playing in his last game for Stags, for his outstanding defensive display.
Stags have their first home game of the season next Saturday against the Biggy Boys. Kick off 3pm, all support welcome.
