However, the final result looked increasingly unlikely as the whistle approached, as a succession of mistakes and four London Irish drop-goals had put the Saints under constant pressure.

Irish gave Saints early scares through a succession of charge-downs – the first forcing Ben Cohen into early defensive action, the second, perhaps ironically, allowing the visitors to work their way to the home 22, from where Paul Grayson kicked the penalty.

However, Irish equalised with their first genuine attack. With an overlap, Mark Mapletoft chipped, Wylie Human blocked with his shoulder, and Mapletoft converted the penalty.

The visiting Saints had the majority of possession and control in the opening half-hour, but time and again the ball would be lost in contact – as when Human knocked on in sight of the line, or an inside ball would find an Irish hand at the vital moment, and all the good impetus would be lost.

Irish, therefore, had all the chances. Mapletoft missed once, and a stray Paul Casey boot ensured that another kickable penalty was reversed. However, Mapletoft made no mistake when Saints conceded again under the bar, an offence that saw Cohen spending 10 minutes on the sidelines.

But just when Irish looked to be taking full advantage, a Mapletoft inside flick to Paul Sackey instead found Mark Robinson, who raced clear to score, although he did have to carry his opposite number Paul Hodgson the final two metres. Grayson’s conversion, and a third Mapletoft penalty gave a one-point margin to the visitors at the break.

Irish took the lead early in the second half through a Mapletoft drop-goal, and both sides wasted promising opportunities before an enforced injury break to Robinson that saw him replaced by Saints league debutant Ben Jones.

Mapletoft extended the lead with a second drop-goal as Saints were forced onto the back foot, and even when they did get hold of the ball, their attempts to generate initiative fell flat and were easily absorbed by the Irish defence.

The lack of possession and therefore platform was symptomatic of the second-half, and was compounded by Mapletoft’s third drop-goal, before Drahm closed the gap from 51 metres. His second came from 47 metres, but looked to have been only a consolation as it followed a fourth Irish drop-goal – this time from Barry Everitt – that had looked to have the sealed the win for the hosts.

But a short Irish line-out throw gave Saints a glimmer of hope, and though the pass from Jones bobbled its way to Drahm, it allowed the fly-half to step inside the defence and give the travelling support and the team an early New Year lift.