The visitors fielded a relatively inexperienced side as the two sides battled it out for top spot in the Northern Conference, but the back row says nothing was being taken for granted after they were soundly beaten last time out at Sale.
“We went to Sale a couple of weeks ago against a young team and really underestimated them so it was good that we turned up today from minute one,” he told SaintsTV. “The two early tries all but wrapped up the game in the first half and we kept up the tempo after half-time for a full 80-minute performance and got a really good win out of it.
“Our defence all the way through has improved massively this year. The first team at the weekend defended for over 20 phases at one point without conceding and that’s something we’ve worked on a lot. Hats off to Alan Dickens for that and then also to Alex King in attack. We changed a lot at the club over the summer and it all seems to be working as results have shown.”
The 21-year-old has been one of the standout performers in 2013/14 so far and in captaining the side is also relishing the role of leading from the front.
“Leadership is a big thing, no matter what level you are at within the club. I did it a bit at Academy level but Wandies is now another step up for me in terms of captaincy and I know I’ve got to go out there and set that example.
“I’ve learnt a lot from it, in terms of game management as well and it’s been god for me as well as the team.”
Next up will be the visit of Southern Conference runners up Harlequins, a team Nutley is certainly cautious of as the Wanderers look to make it third time lucky at the Gardens in the ‘A’ League’s last four.
“A team like Harlequins are expected to be in the top four, so they’ve got a very good squad throughout. We saw that in the LV= Cup last year and also in the Wanderers’ semi-final the year before that where we didn’t come out on top.
“It gives us an incentive going into that game in a few weeks to hopefully get the win and move into our first final as a group.”
