There was fantastic travelling support for the return of the Saxons, with plenty making the trip down the coast – including Club President Rob Brewster – to see Felixstowe field a 22-man squad featuring a brilliant mix of youth and experience.

Among the squad were six 17-year-olds and three players aged over 40. It was also a special afternoon for two Felixstowe families. Sid and Austin Mirams had the opportunity to take to the field together as father and son, while brothers Finley and Miles Stack lined up alongside each other for their first league game together.

Felixstowe were given a harsh early lesson by an experienced Clacton side. The Saxons had opportunities to clear their lines but failed to do so on three occasions and the hosts punished them, crossing for the opening score before quickly adding another.

Just ten minutes into the return of Saxons rugby, Felixstowe found themselves 10–0 down. To make matters worse, Manny was forced from the field through injury during the opening exchanges.

But the Saxons were beginning to wake up.

Finley Stack provided the spark with a storming 50-yard run, stepping three defenders before eventually being brought down illegally. Felixstowe were awarded the penalty and Clacton were shown a yellow card.

From the resulting pressure, Felixstowe went straight to the training ground playbook.

A short lineout to the front found Rhys Mathias, who was stopped just short of the line. Gareth Carr picked from the base of the resulting ruck and powered his way over from close range for the Saxons' first try.

Clacton 10–5 Felixstowe.

Felixstowe went back to what was working.

Another lineout, another well-worked move and another score. This time there was no stopping Rhys Mathias, who crashed over to bring the Saxons all the way back to 10–10.

As the travelling support discovered – if it ain't broken, don't fix it!

Clacton's greater experience began to tell as the half progressed, however. The hosts responded strongly and, despite Felixstowe showing plenty of fight, opened up a 27–10 lead by half-time.

The Saxons came back out determined to make a game of it and started finding more space through the backs.

Jack Rowbottom, who produced an outstanding performance to earn Man of the Match, helped Felixstowe move the ball into space before Sid Mirams found room on the outside.

Once Sid saw the open field, there was no catching him. He put on the burners around the outside, blazed down the wing and finished a magnificent Saxons try.

Clacton 27–15 Felixstowe.

Felixstowe's young players were also beginning to make their presence felt defensively.

Two of the Saxons' 17-year-olds, Isaac Barrow and Chase Hardy, stepped up with some crunching second-half tackles and massive hits. Neither took a backward step against a much more experienced Clacton side, and their physicality gave another glimpse of the exciting young talent coming through at Felixstowe.

The Saxons weren't finished.

With Felixstowe enjoying another sustained spell of pressure, Finley Stack crashed the ball powerfully through the middle of the park. His brother Miles Stack then took over and powered his way through the Clacton defence to crash over the line.

It was a particularly fitting moment on an already special afternoon for the brothers. Playing their first league game together, Finley had done the damage with the initial carry before Miles finished the move with Felixstowe's fourth try.

The Stack brothers had combined to make it 34–20, and Felixstowe were still fighting.

Clacton eventually added the final score of the afternoon, and their greater experience ultimately proved decisive as the hosts ran out 39–20 winners.

But the final score told only part of the story.

For a Saxons side playing its first fixture in 15 years, with six 17-year-olds, three over-40s, a father-and-son combination in Sid and Austin Mirams, and brothers Finley and Miles Stack playing their first league match together, there was an enormous amount for Felixstowe Rugby Club to be proud of.

After finding themselves 10–0 down early on, the Saxons fought back to 10–10, scored four tries, produced some huge defensive moments and continued competing until the final whistle.