The Saxons were at Copt Heath on Saturday, looking to get their first win of the season after a tricky opening set of fixtures.

Just a minute in and a drive from Ollie Taylor created the game’s first opening. Jake Mallett was released down the right wing, who managed to get the ball down over the try line while being smashed into by an opponent.

And it wasn’t long before the Saxons were at it again, a powerful run from Rudi Newman turning defence into attack. He passed the ball to videographer turned Second Row, Hasan Khandoker, who had players on his right, but opted to go back inside to Rudi. Rudi then offloaded to Dan Walker, who skipped past a diving challenge to score the team’s second try. A conversion from Harry Law increased their advantage to 12-0.

Dan picked up his second try later in the half when a big challenge from Jack Kalewski allowed the former to pick it up. Dan then carried the ball across the pitch, too quick for the Old Laurentians defence, and scored underneath the posts to give Harry an easy conversion.

Even with the Saxons in a commanding lead, Old Laurentians kept fighting and earned themselves two non-converted tries to reduce the deficit to 19 – 10 at the break.

Old Laurentians cut the Saxons’ lead to just 2 points in the second half when they scored their third try of the match and kicked the conversion. But the Saxons responded in the best way possible with a try of their own. A ruck saw the ball worked out to Hasan, who released skipper Josh Mallett. Josh bombed down the left wing to score the Saxons’ fourth try of the day, with Harry adding to the points tally from his boot.

Josh then got his second try of the match when he was found by Jack close to the try line. With not a lot of space to work with, Josh beat his man and dotted down to make it 31 – 17.

There was just enough time for Dan to complete his hat-trick, receiving the ball not far into the opposition’s half, going on a mazy run round several Old Laurentians players and diving across the line to add the Saxons’ sixth try. The Saxons rode out 36 – 17 winners in the end and thoroughly deserved their first win of the season.

UTS