Southampton 17 - 17 Fareham Heathens

Despite a great start, Southampton were held to a draw by second placed Heathens, in difficult conditions with a strong wind blowing down the pitch.

Saints started with the wind behind them and immediately put Heathens throw under pressure on their try line, with Steve Dewey recting fastest to dive on the loose ball for an early try.

Will Ewart was next on the scoreboard after Harry King and Dave Ward broke through the defence, before new fly half Alex Kerr found a gap in the defence to put Ewart through.

Fareham found it difficult to clear their lines in the wind and instead made hard yards with pick and drives from the pack, but Southampton put in some good tackles at the breakdown - with Chris Milne putting in another particularly massive hit.

But it was Southampton's backs who grabbed the points again, when Julian Robins ran in unchallenged from twenty five yards for his thirteenth try in fourteen games. Good work Jules! He even got it under the posts to make it easy for Ryan Keary, who added the conversion. 17-0 and all going to plan...

Fareham had other ideas and they struck back right before half time. A break left their winger isolated, but despite four Southampton players on their feet at the tackle he was somehow able to hold on to the ball until his support arrived.

Play then switched direction and Heathens found a massive overlap on the right, where the stretched defence were unable to keep the gates shut. The half time score was 17-7.

Southampton were forced to reorganise at half time when fly half Kerr went off, and they also struggled to clear their lines in the strong wind.

Instead it was Heathens who turned the tables on Southampton, pinging the ball into the bottom corner and pressurising the defence. A driving maul forced its way over the Saints line but the ref was unsighted as the ball was grounded.

There was no doubt moments later though, as Fareham's forwards drove through a gap after sustained pressure on the Saints line. The conversion brought the score to 17-14.

A penalty then tied the scores as Saints found themselves contiunually penalised at the breakdown.

Southampton ended the game defending for their lives, with flanker Mark Price sinbinned for an infringement at the breakdwon. Heathens missed three penalty chances to win the game, including one which came back off the post, but the draw keeps Southampton top of the table.

The lads are in action again on Sunday as they take on Farnborough in the Cup.