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Saints u17s Stage Thrilling Comeback To Beat Wests

2nd Oct 2008, 8:19am

St Helens U17’s 22 v 16 Wests Magpies U17’s
 
By Graham Henthorne, Team Manager
 
In conditions reminiscent of that wonderful Bolton night at the Reebok back in 2001 the Saints U17’s did to their Antipodean guests what the First team did to Brisbane handing them their first defeat on tour.
 
The Magpies beat a strong Bradford side on Saturday but were caught cold, literally as well as metaphorically, by a magnificent second half comeback from the Saints.
 
Trailing 16 – 0 at half time and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the speed and aggression shown by Wests, the Saints scored 22 unanswered points to deservedly take the spoils.
 
Saints first half was characterised by their first two possessions, both knock ons by Rob Murphy. But the big prop made up for these mistakes later in the half coming off the bench to lead by example.
 
Wests opened the scoring on 6 minutes with the hooker plunging in from dummy half by the sticks.
 
From the kick off the visitors showed their inexperience of the conditions knocking on five metres out, but the position came to nought.
 
The Magpies extended their lead as right winger Lapola scored the first of his two tries. His centre broke the line and put his winger away. He was caught from behind by Saints speedster Scott Clarke but scored on the next tackle after a mix up in defence. Stand off Leasi converted from the touchline and the Saints were beginning to realise the size of the task ahead.
 
In their eagerness to get back on terms the Saints youngsters were again guilty of simple errors. Scott Hale made a great break down the left only to knock on and after a good drive from Rob Murphy, Ste Ward tried to push the pass just that little too much finding the touch judge instead of his winger.
 
Scott Clarke was inches away from taking Lee Gaskell’s high ball in the corner before the Magpies swept down field sending Lapola free to outpace the cover for his second try.
 
The second half was a different kettle of fish. Head Coach Eric Frodsham told his charges to make the visitors work for their field position and build some pressure. With these words ringing in their ears, the Saints took the field to driving rain howling into the faces of the Magpies and the sight of some of their players cringing with the cold.
 
The Saints pack started to take control of their opposite numbers giving Gaskell and Ben Karalius the space to work in which had been absent in the first period.
 
A monumental drive from John Jenkins and another from Dave Pike got the Saints to the line only for Ste Neild to knock on when nearly through. Jenkins started and nearly finished Saints next possession being stopped just short of the line, but good kicking and chasing gave the Saints a period of concerted pressure which although it didn’t yield any points, took the last of the stamina out of the visitors.
 
The Magpies line was finally broken by Scott Hale. Tom Makinson had been stopped close in the right corner but from the play the ball Carl Forster broke through feeding Hale who had enough momentum to reach out to score. Inexplicably Gaskell missed the easy conversion but the Saints took great heart from the score.
 
From the restart the Saints were in again as Gaskell finished off a superb move which he started himself. He put Danny Hunter through the line, Hunter found Tommy Johnson in support, he took it to the full back before feeding Gaskell to stride under the posts.
 
By now you could throw a postage stamp over the Magpies in possession and the Saints, like all good sides, went for the jugular. Carl Forster dragged three defenders fully 10 metres on his back and from the play the ball Joe Molyneux, fresh from Saturday’s Grand Final success, scooted in to score. Gaskell converted and the scores were level.
 
The comeback was complete when Danny Langtree put the Saints ahead with only a minute to go on the clock. Repeat sets due to some lucky bounces after some dodgy drop goal attempts, kept the Saints on the attack and as Gaskell’s last tackle chip bobbled around Danny Langtree plucked it out of the air to touch down.
 
This was a gutsy second half display from a young team who finally did itself justice. Jenkins, Murphy, Langtree and Pike took us forward, Aaron Lloyd spiced up the play the ball and the dummy half running of Joe Molyneux and Ben Karalius was too much for the Magpies to handle.
 
 
St Helens U17’s
Wests Magpies U17’s
  1. Tommy Johnson
  1. Brett Potts
  1. Scott Clarke
  1. Motu Lapola
  1. Scott Hale
  1. Zach Burke
  1. Tom Makinson
  1. Sam Ataua
  1. Ste Neild
  1. Sean Whittington
  1. Lee Gaskell
  1. Barry Leasi
  1. Ben Karalius
  1. Mat Brassington
  1. Rob Murphy
  1. Adam Baskanyoli
  1. Joe Molyneux
  1. Michael Graham
  1. John Jenkins
  1. Vincent Steadman
  1. Danny Langtree
  1. Tonoi Joseph
  1. Danny Hunter
  1. Inno Innosisio
  1. Carl Forster
  1. Seabastian Sell
  1. Aaron Lloyd
  1. Juke Townsend
  1. Josh Greaves
  1. Fredstar Frekistar
  1. Mark Murray
  1.  
  1. Adam Tatlock
  1. Sam Caveillaro
  1. David Pike (25)
  1.  
  1. Anthony Walker (26)
  1.  
  1. Chris Walsh (27)
  1. Cameron Graham
  1. Ste Ward (28)
  1. Kenny Higgins
  1. Lewis Pickering (29)
  1.  
 
Saints U17’s:
Tries: Scott Hale, Lee Gaskell, Joe Molyneux, Danny Langtree.
Goals: Lee Gaskell 3.
 
Wests Magpies U17’s:
Tries: Motu Lapola 2, Michael Graham.
Goals: Barry Leasi 2.
 
Half Time: 0-16  
Full Time: 22-16
 
 
 
 

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