St Neots Rugby Club kicked off their league campaign with an away fixture against local rivals, Huntingdon Stags, in what proved to be a challenging but encouraging opener. Despite a 19-5 loss, the Saints can take plenty of positives from their performance, particularly in their forward dominance and the resilience shown by a side featuring several debutants.

From the outset, St Neots were in control of key phases of the game. Their scrum was an area of complete superiority, consistently overpowering the opposition and earning valuable possession. For large parts of the first half, St Neots set up camp in Huntingdon's half, applying pressure and dominating both territory and ball retention. However, despite their impressive control, they struggled to convert their dominance into points, a reflection of early-season rust and missed opportunities.

The Stags were reduced to 14 men on three separate occasions due to yellow cards, but St Neots couldn't fully capitalise. A lucky bounce late in the half led to a key turning point in the game, with Huntingdon gaining a fortuitous 50-22 kick. An overthrow from the resulting lineout was pounced on by the Stags' back row, who crossed the line to give them the lead. A well-struck penalty just before the break saw Huntingdon enter halftime with a 10-0 advantage.

The second half saw more of the same as St Neots continued to exert pressure and enjoy the lion's share of possession. Their efforts were finally rewarded when debutant Jack Wilkie, in a standout moment, bulldozed his way through five tackles to score his first try for the club, reducing the deficit to 10-5. The Saints were back in it and full of belief.

However, injuries and a loss of structure started to take their toll on St Neots. As the game wore on, Huntingdon managed to keep their noses in front with several well-taken penalties, gradually extending their lead and keeping the Saints at arm’s length. Despite continued effort, the final whistle saw the Stags secure a 19-5 victory.

While the result wasn’t what St Neots hoped for, the game showcased the potential of the team, especially with first-team debuts from Jack Wilkie, Ryan Litchfield, Ash Fisk, Isaac Silverthorne and Ciaran Pearsall. Wilkie’s try and the strong scrummaging were highlights, while the overall team spirit and tenacity were evident throughout the contest.

With a few adjustments, better discipline and more composure in finishing opportunities, St Neots can take great confidence moving into next week’s fixture. If they build on this performance, there's no doubt they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the weeks to come.