Round seven saw Saints make the short trip to Stockport to face a side who had won all six of their previous matches and remained unbeaten. The travelling supporters noted the absence of the traditional minute’s silence for Remembrance Day before kick-off.

Good conditions underfoot and bright, clear weather provided the setting for what proved to be a closely fought contest. Still struggling with injuries, Saints made a couple of changes, welcoming back Greene and Dodd, while Bowden started at number 10.

From the kick-off, Stockport piled on the pressure, but Saints’ defence held firm, despite having to scramble on occasions. An offside decision against Saints on the 22-metre line gave Stockport a corner, but some determined defending kept them out. However, a couple of poor defensive kicks left Saints under continued pressure, and another infringement on the 22-metre line gave Stockport a penalty, which they elected to kick for a 3-0 lead.

As Saints began to enjoy more possession and the referee’s arm stayed down more often, Harrison Crowe broke forward and passed inside to Greene. A reverse pass then found Cole on the wing, and he made the corner before sliding over to score. The conversion was missed, but Saints had reduced the deficit to 3-5.

Stockport responded immediately from the restart, once again putting Saints under pressure. The defence initially held firm, but as Saints chased another poor defensive kick, a player slipped and left a gap which Stockport exploited to score. The conversion was missed, putting the hosts back in front at 8-5.

Saints responded with a breakout from Dodd following a sustained period of pressure. Bailey Smith spotted a gap in the Stockport defensive line and made an outstanding run towards the 22-metre line before slipping the ball to Greene. An outrageous dummy fooled the defenders, allowing Greene to sprint over the line. Bailey Smith added the conversion to give Saints an 8-12 lead.

Both teams were now going for it, with some strong tackling on display at either end. Ben Jones gathered a high kick before weaving through the defensive line and passing to Cole on the wing. Cole sprinted towards the line, shrugged off a high tackle from a defender and went over in the corner for his second try of the match. Jones, who had taken over kicking duties, missed the conversion, leaving the score at 8-17.

Stockport returned to the attack and won a penalty, which they elected to kick, reducing the deficit to 11-17.

It was then all Stockport, and when a rushed clearance kick failed to find touch, the hosts exploited the broken defensive line to score under the posts. With half-time approaching, it was a case of déjà vu when another Saints clearance kick failed to find touch. Saints were having a difficult afternoon with the boot, and Stockport again capitalised, scoring in the corner. Fortunately, the conversion was missed, but the hosts had turned the game around to lead 23-17 at the break.

With both teams giving everything, the second half developed into a real top-of-the-table battle, with neither side able to establish a clear advantage.

When Cotrell left the field to have a cut ear treated, Saints turned a defensive scrum into an attacking penalty. They opted to go to the line-out, and a subsequent knock-on by Stockport gave Saints an attacking scrum.

Saints began to dominate the scrum, and Jones broke down the wing before cutting inside to score and make his conversion attempt easier. He duly added the extras to put Saints back in front at 23-24 and secure at least a bonus point.

Stockport made it a real midfield battle, but Saints remained defensively solid. Fresh legs were introduced, with Bonner Grant and Crowe joining the action, alongside Holmes and the bandaged-up Cotrell.

A long-range penalty gave Stockport the opportunity to regain the lead, and they took it, moving ahead 26-24.

Saints began to edge the rucks and mauls, with Bailey Smith making good decisions and gaining valuable ground in attack, while also putting in some bone-crunching tackles in defence.

Whittaker appeared to have scored, but the referee agreed with the Stockport players that the ball had been knocked on, and the try was ruled out.

Saints were soon awarded another penalty and drove forward up the middle. An infringement around 10 metres out gave them a penalty directly in front of the posts. With the game finely balanced, Jones calmly slotted the kick to restore Saints’ lead at 26-27.

Stockport missed a long-range penalty, and following another fiercely contested midfield battle, which Saints were just beginning to edge, the final whistle brought some welcome relief.

It was a great result for Saints at a ground where they have struggled in the past. A much-needed week off now follows, before a home fixture against Kendal on 21 November, kicking off at 2.15pm.