With many players unavailable across the club, Southampton's First and Seconds games both looked at risk of not happening at points during the week. But with some creative team selection, debuts for Ollie Sutton and Solent Uni's Tom Chapman, Josh Luneman, George Cambridge and Tadeg Kerdoncruff, plus help from Cam, Chris, Aaron and Dawkins from Andover, Southampton Twos faced off against a Fawley side keen to make a mark in their first league season as a Second Team.

The home side took the lead after overloading the blind side and using the extra numbers to good effect, but Southampton hit back almost immediately through George Cambridge. A miss pass got the ball out wide quickly and a simple two-on-one put the left winger in for his first try on his Southampton debut. He then grabbed a second shortly after, collecting the ball outside the Fawley twenty two and showing great pace to go round the defence and finish in the corner.

Fawley relied on a few big runners and they used them well to crash over and level the scores, before taking the lead with a third try shortly after. A knock to Tom Chapman saw him leave the field and Southampton drop to fourteen men, but despite the numerical disadvantage they held their own as Fawley showed little interest in moving the ball wide, instead relying on big forward runners.

A series of penalties gave Southampton the chance to work their way upfield and then to within ten metres of the line. A catch and drive from a line out took them closer still, before Andy Dawkins dived over to level the scores at 15-15 just before half time.

Fawley struck first in the second half, but winger Aidan Sharp levelled the scores again showing great pace to go round the defence on the right wing. Tom Chapman recovered from his knock and returned to the field, cancelling out Fawley's one man advantage. Southampton then took the lead when Terance Puna reacted first to a loose Fawley line out, speeding through as the ball was tapped and intercepting as the scrum half tried to offload to the ten. The converted try made the score 20-27 but, as was the pattern all day, the lead did not last long. Southampton failed to deal with the restart, Fawley gathered and immediately levelled the scores with a converted try of their own. Aidan Sharp took a bang in the defensive effort, breaking his collarbone and Saints were down to fourteen players again. We wish Aidan the speediest of recoveries.

As the game came to its conclusion, Fawley took advantage of Southampton infringements by electing to kick two penalties in front of the posts. The six points from the tee proved to be the only thing that separated the two teams in what was a nail-biting contest which Fawley edged 33-27.

Man of the Match went to Terance Puna, but there were some excellent performances across the park. Josh Luneman, Luke Inder and Charles Wylde deserve a special mention for bravely stepping up to play front row. Tadeg Kerdoncruff made a series of jinking breaks from scrum half, George Cambridge showed real pace for his pair of tries, while the loanees from Andover slotted in brilliantly and enjoyed their run out in red and white. Huge thanks to those lads for making the long drive down to play for us!

On another day, Dick of the Day could have gone to Tom Chapman - a second row who somehow felt the need to kick the ball - but instead the second pint on a chair went to Ollie Sutton in recognition of a great performance on his Southampton debut which saw him steal a number of Fawley line outs.

Despite the loss, Southampton should be hugely proud of their performance which saw them earn two bonus points with an unfamiliar lineup against a fairly settled Fawley side. Another tough test awaits next week as Totton 3s visit Test Park.