Match Report: Old Albanian Saints 35 – 34 Exeter Athletic
Sunday 5th October 2025
Woollams Playing Fields, St Albans
Pictured: Player of the Match Ellie Cunningham relieves pressure with her boot

Old Albanian Saints produced an unforgettable comeback in front of a lively home crowd at Woollams, overturning a 15-point half-time deficit to beat league newcomers Exeter Athletic 35–34 in a Championship South classic.

Trailing 14–29 at the break, the Saints showed real composure and belief to claw their way back into the contest. Exeter impressed with their pace and offloading in contact, keeping the scoreboard ticking despite being under intense pressure at the set piece — where the Saints pack once again proved dominant.

Early tries came through the pack from Jodie Turl and Mica Gooding, with the second-half resurgence kickstarted by a score from winger Shaniah Herelle. A brace off the bench from Mererid Jones sealed the comeback, with Ellie Cunningham on kicking duties. Fittingly, it was Cunningham who held her nerve in the dying minutes to slot the match-winning conversion and complete the turnaround.

Cunningham’s tactical kicking and calm management of territory earned her Player of the Match, while the Saints forwards once again laid the foundation with a powerful scrum yielding a string of scrum penalties.

The day also saw a senior debut for tighthead prop Kaylee McHugh, who made an assured impact off the bench, and a welcome return for Katie Johnson, back from representing LIT 7s in Fiji during the opening rounds of the season. Johnson entered the game just after half-time and brought fresh tempo and control to the backline during Saints’ comeback.

The result keeps OA Saints unbeaten after three rounds, placed second in the league table, just behind Richmond on points difference — and marks an early contender for match of the season at Woollams.

The 1XV go on to face North Bristol away next Sunday.

Final Score: Old Albanian Saints 35 – 34 Exeter Athletic
Tries: Turl, Gooding, Herelle, Jones (2)
Conversions: Cunningham (5)
Player of the Match: Ellie Cunningham