With their forwards taking the upper hand they dominated possession, slick distribution by halfbacks Pete White and Sione Tu’ipolotu providing the Saxons’ outside backs with a wealth of front foot ball that produced a try-fest - their season is well and truly back on the road following a comprehensive 48-15 victory.

With Robbie Hurrell and Caolan Ryan rested the Saxons lineup featured a welcome return for no.8 Matt Thomas who had undergone reconstructive surgery on a serious knee injury.

The opening try was scored as early as the 4th minute after a backs’ move enabled fullback Tom Jarvis to burn outside a defender left clutching thin air. Hull hit back with a penalty when the Saxons’ defensive line was caught offside, but it was back to normal service when flanker James Rodley scored at the back of a driving maul that Hull couldn’t hold out.

Hull showed plenty of endeavour, attempting to counter from deep but were hit with a sucker punch when man-of-the-match Tu’ipolotu intercepted to run in unchallenged for a try on the half-hour. He bagged another – and a precious bonus point – 5 minutes before half time by neatly stepping inside Hull’s drift defence after the pack had destroyed their opponents’ scrum, and another try came as the clocked clicked into the halftime break, centre Gary Dipple executing a neat loop move and darting through a gap.

Nathan Bressington was next on the scoresheet after a Hull lineout was picked off deep in their 22. The ball was fed quickly right down the threequarter line where a misaligned defence failed to shut the wide channel enabling him to coast round with barely a finger laid on him. Hull then coughed up possession in the Saxons 22 enabling a clearance kick/chase that bore fruit when the ball came to Tu’ipolotu. His neat chip through was gathered by winger Jamie Hearn who grounded for a try but was unable to convert.

40 points clear by now the Saxons were guilty of taking their foot off the gas a little, Hull coming back into the game with a well worked try in the corner and a gift as the ball squirted uncontrolled out of a Saxons’ ruck deep in their 22. But the last word was to be had by Hearn, who took the ball on the left near halfway and left a trail of defenders grasping at air as he scorched crossfield to score on the right. Final score 48-15, but with 2nd place Hull Ionians also recording a bonus point win the Saxons will need to keep producing winning performances if they are to secure an automatic promotion spot.