Can't beat the joy of taming Tigers!

Due to real life getting in the way – don’t let anyone ever tell you retired life is boring – this report is a little late in the week. I told you we had reasons to be cheerful!

I am still on my little cloud of happiness after a scintillating display of upbeat rugby from Saints’ next generation. I took to the calculator following the example of Anna Litchfield last week. Our starting 23 had an average age of 23.1 years.

It’s easy to forget that players who appear quite senior, for example George Hendy and Tom Litchfield, are both still only 22!

The boys were skippered for the first time by Chunya Munga, at only 24 led with a quiet confidence the belied his years. The East Midlands derbies always have an edge to them and this was no exception with “handbags” breaking out from time to time. Mainly when the Tigers were out to rile up Henry Pollock....who mainly laughed at them! The only card was a yellow for a stripey one when he committed a deliberate knock-on. Makes a change from the cards being given for an attempted knock-out!

The game itself was joyous. Tiggs scored first after a seeming try from Archie McParland was called back when the TMO spotted a high tackle from Charlie Savala – who had a good game in his new position of centre apart from that. The Tiggers’ wing made “shushing” gestures towards the crowd after scoring – I suspect he felt a bit daft by the time the final whistle came.

Saints just ramped up the game and played the way they love to play with newbie George Makepeace Cubitt running the show from 10. He put in a high-bouncing crossfield kick which Henry Pollock retrieved with a basketball –style leap to safely ground the ball.

James Ramm, on for the injured Tom Seabrook was next in line to score from a beautifully timed pass from the young 10. Saints taking advantage of the space left by the Tigers’ yellow card.

Then just before half time some impressive footwork from Savala drew the defence and Mr Dependable Tom Litchfield cantered over to score in the corner.

And so it continued in the second half with Saints running the show from half back. The Tigers defenders were no match for the back-to-front legs of George Hendy who cantered in for the bonus point try.

Hendy was confusing the Tigers again on the hour mark as he they tracked him and left replacement Ewan Baker, clear to go over in the corner for his first senior try.

Tigers got a score back from a try by the delightfully named Will Wand but with the final score of 31-12 it will have been scant comfort.

It’s telling to me that the Saints squad all train together, including the Academy lads. They have all learned to play the Sam Vesty way and when they look like a bunch of mates havinga good time –that’s because they are.

Special mention goes to all those who made their debut: Fyn Brown, Nathan Langdon (brother of), Sonny Tonga’uiha (son of), Will Spencer and Jonny Weimann. Guest player Mitieli Vulikijapani made a good showing on the wing – he’s no relation to any Saint past or present but he has played Rugby League for both Bradford and Hull – old stomping grounds of our much revered defence coach Lee Radford.

And so it’s onwards to Saturday and the Remembrance Day game against Nottingham. The team has not yet been announced but I expect there may be more youngsters blooded in this exciting competition. We may or may not have our six England A players available (who knows how these rules work) but big congratulations to Tom Pearson, Curtis Langdon, Manny Iyogun, Henry Pollock, Archie McParland and skipper for the game Fraser Dingwall. Go well boys and come back safely!

Thanks, as always, to Claire Jones of RedHat Photo for the pictures. More can be found here.

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