Fareham Heathens II 12 - 31 Southampton

With no league fixture, Southampton took to the road for a friendly against Fareham Heathens.

The home side started well and Saints found themselves pinned in their 22 as Heathens searched for an early score, but some resolute defence saw Saints turn over the ball and clear their lines. A break from returning Old Boy Aaron Nelson helped clear the lines, before the ball was worked out to the left where winger Pascal showed good speed to round the defence and score in the corner. The end-to-end move from Saints was capped off in style as Jordan Dashwood converted from a difficult angle.

A second try followed soon after as Southampton put together a number of phases to come close to the Heathens' line. Heathens were penalised as they defended desperately and a quick tap saw Southampton on the front foot once again. The pressure paid off and stand in Captain Tom Laycock crossed for the second try. Again Dashwood made no mistake with the conversion to give Saints a 14 point lead.

But as good as Southampton looked going forward, they lacked some organisation in defence and Fareham had some big runners who were constantly on the lookout for gaps around the fringes. But it was former Saint Kevin Cant, playing fly half for Fareham, who forced his way over under the posts to get Heathens off the mark.

Southampton added a third try through Josh Fearon before Heathens struck themselves after quickly moving the ball out wide to their left winger. The half time score was 12-19.

With no first team game, Heathens had a full bench and they made a number of changes at half time. Southampton brought on Tiko at fly half, but his run out at 10 was cut short after suffering a nasty cut to the head early in the second half.

After leaving some gaps around the breakdown in the first period, Southampton tightened things up in defence with Jack Leadbitter and Gus Nye putting in typically hard-hitting shifts on the flanks. And Leadbitter's pressure paid off when he intercepted a pass at the back of a breakdown before showing great pace to outrun three chasing Heathens to score from around seventy meters. Aaron Owen converted to give Saints a 12-26 lead.

A series of crashes from the Saints pack then took them over the Heathens' line again, and when the pile of players arose it was Leadbitter who emerged with the ball having grounded for his second try of the game.

Southampton could have scored more, but Alec Gray had a try disallowed for a forward pass. Winger Charles Wylde was unlucky not to get on the scoreboard after seeing a number of opportunities thwarted by the defence. He has been regularly finding himself in the right place at the right time and surely it's only a matter of time before the tries start rolling in.

Saints ran out 12-31 winners in a game that was hard fought by both sides, but generally played in a good spirit. Jack Leadbitter claimed yet another Man of the Match performance, while thanks go to Heathen's 1st Team Captain Cobby who had a run out at centre for Saints - and earned himself the Heathens' Dick of the Day award as a result.

Southampton host fellow title contenders Southsea Nomads in a top of the table clash at Test Park next week. Meanwhile Lymington Mariners saw their title ambitions suffer a huge blow as they were beaten in a double-header by Hook and Odiham.