Saints again went into the fixture with a number of changes as a result of injuries, but despite this the home side started strongly. After only 4 minutes, a penalty in front of the posts was slotted home for an early 3 point lead.

New Milton were quick to show the pace in their backs, as the ball was whipped out wide left exposing a lack of defensive organisation in the Saints midfield. With the defence beaten, a forward pass ruined the overlap chance and Saints were able to kick clear from the resulting scrum.

But despite some unfamiliar faces in the three-quarter roles, Saints still showed plenty of pace. A chip over the top of the New Milton full back sent him scurrying back towards his line, but a great chase from Julian Robbins and James Parks left no time to clear and the Saints pair bundled him back over his own try line. From the resulting 5 yard try, the Saints pack set up a strong platform before Alan Butler drove over on 20 minutes for the game's first try. The conversion was over, for a 10-0 lead.

The home side now looked to dominate the game and a penalty for holding on allowed fly half Pierre to drill the ball into the corner for a five yard line out. The catch was good and the ball was shipped to midfield, where full-back Jules sliced through on a great angle, opening up the New Milton centres under the posts. The conversion was safely slotted for a 17-0 lead. Looking good so far...

Saints were now in danger of underestimating the visitors, although New Milton certainly had not given up. A quick set of hands sent the ball out to the New Milton right wing, created an overlap and rounded the Saints defence to narrow the scoreline. Despite a tricky angle from wide on the right, the fly half added the two points with a cracking conversion, making it 17-7.

With that as a wake-up call, Saints restored the 17 point margin soon after. A break from halfway by scrum half Paul Brant opened up the defence. He had support from Ginger who took the ball on and set up a good quick ruck, before Branty spread the ball wide right. It seemed like any one of four Saints players should have scored but somehow they managed to find the only defender in a twenty yard gap. The ball came back infield and the try finally came from Bean, who took a great pass, from depth at pace; crashing over from anywhere between 2 and 22 yards out (depending on how many beers he's had). The conversion was again good, for a 24-7 lead.

Despite the initial dominance of the Saints pack, the visitors dug deep and now started stealing some of Saints' ball. It was in the backs that New Milton seemed most threatening though, and in a mirror image of their first try the ball was moved quickly wide on the left where Saints had thoughtfully left a big hole. The tricky angle was no problem for New Milton's fly half and at the halftime whistle, the score was a less than convincing 24-14.

The second half initially lacked some of the excitement of the first, although Saints had a few chances down the left. Young winger James Parks had three chances to run at his opposite man and each time chipped over the top. The third chance bobbled down the line invitingly, but found the safety of the touchline moments before he could gather it.

As the second half progressed, Saints lost much of the energy and enthusiasm with which they'd started the game. The forwards looked tired and at one point their scrum was driven backwards faster than a French tank surrendering Paris. Winger Jason Keough made some great tackles but was substituted midway through the half, when it looked as if he might finish a match in one piece. He was replaced by veteran Wayne Allen, but even his electric pace failed to unlock the defence.

As the game entered the last 5 minutes, New Milton were doing all the running and the home crowd were muttering things like "We're gonna lose this if we're not careful..."

A series of missed tackles then allowed New Milton to break from the halfway line, creating plenty of space in which to beat Jules at full back. Despite getting a hand to him, Jules couldn't stop the attack and New Milton scored under the posts. Faultless kicking from the New Milton fly half and the score was now 24-21, with two minutes to go. Squirty bum time...

From the restart, Saints regained the ball and drove it with the forwards. That's it, just stick it up the jumper... A couple of forward hits punched onwards, until suddenly the ball squirted out of a tackle and was scooped up by New Milton just inside their own 22. Knowing they only had time to run it, two big passes sent the ball out wide, a couple of missed tackles and Saints had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, 24-26.

Balls.