Sat 14 Sep 2024
For their first home game of the new season Stags welcomed local rivals St Neots to the Racecourse. The fixtures between the two team last season saw opposite extremes of weather, with the first game being played in sweltering conditions, and the return fixture a the racecourse being a little bit too chilly that St Neots players opted to sit the match out. Conditions on Saturday were nicely in the middle of that, and promised for an entertaining game.
From the kick off the visitors threw everything they had at Stags, however the defence held firm. After 25 minutes it appeared as if the flood gate would open as Stags lost Jed Adkins to the bin for a no arm tackle, then minutes captain Jack Skidmore joined Adkins in the bin for a professional foul.
This merely consolidated Stags efforts, and a rare incursion into the visitors territory resulted in Stags being awarded a penalty which Joe Hicken duly converted.
With the Stags back to full strength, and time running out in the half, stags were once again deep in St Neots territory and won a lineout on the visitors throw – possibly the only one they won in the half – which Nathan Gibson smashed his way over for the opening score. Hicken kicked the extras.
The last play of the half saw Stags lose Jamie Gunn to the bin for a high tackle, but as the ref blew for oranges it was clear that Stags were the happier team to take a 10-0 lead into the break after defending for most of the half.
The second half started much the same as first, with St Neots camped deep in Stags territory but unable to cross the whitewash.
St Neots did open their account with a break down the left flank, but the conversion was missed.
So often in previous years Stags would have capitulated in games like this, but to their credit they improved and pinned St Neots in their own half. As pressure mounted, the visitors began giving away penalties, three of which were turned into points from the boot of Hicken and gave Stags and impressive 19-5 victory.
Coach Simon Leader was ecstatic with the result, saying “I am ecstatic with the result”
“It was a huge defensive shift and the boys deserve a lot of credit for that
“I was talking with my old mentor and St Neots coach Paul Joanna Humphries and he thought that his lads were in control for most of the game, and you know what I would probably agree with him.
“The difference though was we took almost all our opportunities when we got into their territory and they didn’t do that.
“We had four lads starting today who were all colts last season; Hugo Payne, Cam Redpath, Noulam St John and Tyler Merton and all of them were outstanding today.
“When we get a bit more ball in games we will be a real handful, so that’s what we need to work on going forward but all in all a great first league win for the team”” concluded Leader.
Stags next match is away at Long Buckby on the 21st of September. All support welcome
