Stand-in skipper Woodgate stars as high-scoring Saints give College outfit a lesson

Aiden Jordan of St Neots in action against Stamford College Old Boys. Picture: CAROL BERWICK (Image: Archant)

The Saints ran in eight tries as they demolished Stamford College Old Boys 57-17 in a Midlands Division Four East (South) clash at The Common – half of them scored by stand-in skipper Joe Woodgate.

St Neots man Dave Hopkins attempts to evade a tackle against Stamford College Old Boys. Picture: CAROL BERWICK (Image: Archant)

A penalty from Lewis Hall eased Saints into an early advantage before Woodgate took centre stage with a hat-trick of tries before the break

The visitors managed managed two scores of their own in the opening 40 minutes to stay in contention, but the 12-point gap between the sides at the interval grew significantly as Saints upped the ante in the second period.

Nic Robinson grabbed his first try in St Neots’ colours before Jordan Rook powered through two tackles to add another score.

Robinson soon struck again before Woodgate got back in on the act for his fourth try of the afternoon.

Jack Webb touched down for the final Saints try and Hall steered over seven of his conversion attempts as Saints followed up a 33-5 win at Deepings in their season-opener three weeks earlier.

Woodgate said: “I’m very proud of all the boys involved. It’s great to now get the results we deserve from our hard work in training.

“We have managed to recruit a number of new players over the summer and those that started for us all had outstanding games.

“If we can maintain this level of commitment and performance it should be a great season.”

Saints are no strangers to success at this level after capturing the Midlands Division Four East (South) title in 2014/15 with a 100 per-cent record.

They turn their attention to the Midlands Junior Vase this Saturday with a second-round tie at home to Warwickshire side Harbury.