The early part of the match was scrappy - many knock ons and bad kicks pervaded both sides throughout the match - but a Grayson penalty on 9 minutes saw the Saints in the lead.

The ball was passed with much more confidence, better running lines were taken, and in general the team performed better than in recent weeks. A Michalak penalty on 14 minutes evened the score at 3 - 3.

Saints gave another penalty away on 19 minutes which Michalak duly converted to put the Saints 6 - 3 behind. Two minutes later, Grayson levelled again from an offside decision, 6 - 6.

On 27 minutes Michalak took another penalty from the Saints 10 metre line to put Toulouse back in the lead at 9 - 6. Saints then had a sustained period of pressure in the Toulouse half, during which another penalty was put over by Grayson. It could have been a try, but Cohen's pass to Thompson was too low for him to pick up.

Grayson kicked another penalty on 35 minutes to return Saints to the lead, 12 - 9. AFter the restart, more atacking resulted in a scrum from a Toulouse knock on, inside their 22. From the back of the scrum, Sharky worked his way round the pack to score. Grayson failed with a tricky conversion, but Saints led 17 - 9 with half time beckoning.

Toulouse, however, cannot be discounted so easily. A spirited attack just before the break resulted in a try in the corner for centre Florian Fritz. Michalak could not make the conversion, so it was 17 - 14 at half time.    

With the crowd getting behind the team from the off and a cheque presentation for the BHF at half time (which Uncle Keith was slightly late for) the whoile ground was buzzing with the prospect of banishing the form of late for good. 

      BHF 2004 £20,000

Toulouse came out fighting in the second half, a snap drop goal going well wide. Cohen planted a brilliant tackle on the French full back, who consequently went off injured. Saints then spent five or so minutes defending their 22 fiercely, until a penalty for hands in a ruck allowed them to clear their lines.

Brett Sturgess entered the fray on 54 minutes, in place of Robbie Morris. From a Saints scrum on halfway, Cohen picked up and blazed through the French defence, Wylie Human trying to complete the move from the Toulouse 22 but penalised for holding on.

Wylie seems to still feel left out, standing on the wing with his hand up asking for the ball, but he is definitely playing better under the new coaching regime. He also attempted a couple of Reihana style quick line outs, both around the hour mark, alas none of them giving him enough room to show his true pace.

Grayson stepped up for another penalty on 63 minutes to extend Saints lead to 20 - 14. Saints then went on the defensive, holding their line firm for five solid minutes until Toulouse's attacking flair sent Jauzion under the posts. Michalak slotted the easy conversion to put Saints behind, by a single point, 21 - 20.

Could it be? Will all of this spirit and passion be crushed just like the rest? A triple replacement of Drahm, Seely and Morris for Grayson, Krige and Budgen on 71 minutes added some fresh (and fresher) legs to the field.

Drahm's effect on the pitch was almost instantaneous.

Saints drove on into the French 22, and the ball was spun back for Shane to hit a superb drop goal, pushing the Saints to the fore again at 23 - 21.

Johnny Howard came on for a limping Sharky on 78 minutes, and his first influence on play was to be penalised for feeding in the scrum. A bit harsh considering the Toulouse scrum half had got away with it for most of the match.

A Saints penalty in the second minute of injury time gave them a final attacking chance, driving on from the ensuing lineout. The final whistle was blown not long afterwards, and the giants of French rugby were slain in the East Midlands.

A superb performance from all concerned, although the set pieces were a little creaky at times. The hope now is to put in a similar performance at Stade Ernest Wallon in a weeks time. See you there, shall I?