Saints 70 Hornets 10
Last night was a very good night for us as a club. The team worked itself to a standstill, played some good football and the game looked like a contest, not a parade. The team's fitness stood up impressively against the world's best club side and the late try that took the score to 70 gives the result a bit of a top heavy feel. Hornets' tries were well executed and we did open Saints up for both, which is encouraging. Our defence was dogged, determined and wholehearted. We couldn't have asked for more.
The supporters too were magnificent, singing their lungs out for 80 minutes and creating plenty of atmosphere on what could have been a downbeat occasion for the locals. Indeed, when the home fans start stealing your songs, you know you've made an impression. Talking to a Saints fan at half time, he said that we took more than Salford did and made significantly more noise. There was even a clutch of about a dozen hornets fans in front of us that I'ver never seen at games before. Let's hope thay enjoyed it enough to come back.
All round, this game was the shot in the arm our season needed. I was wondering yesteday what might galvanise us all, and this might just have been it. It's a great springboard for the rest of the season. If we take that level of commitment - on and off the field - into our league programme, we can push on in a positive frame of mind.
Proud and hoarse this morning.
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