With Saturday marking the halfway point of the season they have now recorded an unprecedented full house of 15 bonus point victories to sit 18 points clear of their nearest challengers in National League 2 North.

The first try was scored direct from the kick off, the Saxons advancing down the pitch through high-tempo phases, skipper Ben Hughes the scorer from centre Will Hurrell’s long cut-out pass as Westoe’s left touchline defence was outflanked.

Next to score in almost the same spot was full back Sam Baker from an overlap created by flanker James Rodley’s entry into the backline. Next up scrum half Pete White spotted a mismatch as the Saxons worked the phases near Westoe’s 22, he scorched round a lumbering opposition forward unable to lay a finger on him.

The Saxons got themselves drawn into Westoe’s forward-oriented game for the next twenty minutes, a scoreless stalemate resulting, but right at the end of the first half they drove Westoe off their scrum ball to set up an attacking lineout, a short drive and neat pass from hooker Dale Garner putting 2nd row Hughes over again.

Tighthead prop Mark George was first on the scoreboard in the second half following an offload from 2nd row Robbie Hurrell, though an off-the-ball skirmish then cost Will Hurrell and his opposite number a spell in the sinbin. A penalty for a late hit on Baker enabled the Saxons to set up another attacking lineout from which league top tryscorer Drew Harper went over at the base of a driving maul.

Ex Oldswinford Hospital back rower Ed Garbett replaced Harper for his debut appearance but then Westoe hit back by driving over a short range maul of their own. But following further pressure from the Saxons’ forwards a break and offload by winger Stefan Cooksammy set up a try for replacement hooker Jordan Page.

As the clock ticked down Hughes put in his 3rd lineout steal of the afternoon, the ball was fed right where Jamie Hearn’s entry into the line created space for Nathan Bressington who outgassed the cover with a 55m run-in. Hearn’s quick conversion secured another minute of play in which man-of-the-match Sione Tu’ipolotu put Cooksammy clean through only to be called back for a forward pass. But with Hearn packing his kicking boots again all but two of the tries had been converted, making for a final score of 52-5.

Coach Mike Umaga commented ‘We made hard work of it, though we’d secured the bonus point by halftime and kept our shape and ambition as conditions deteriorated. It’s nice to be halfway through the season with maximum league points and a full squad available. I’m particularly pleased with way the younger players like Ed are learning from the senior guys in the squad – they have all made an impact when they’ve played. Dudley next week will be a tough place to go though, they’ll be looking to turn us over so there will be no taking our foot off the gas’.

Full match report to follow