SAINTS Academy produced a fine performance to beat Central Coast 36-14 and maintain their 100 per cent start to the Australia Tour.
Tom Roughley grabbed a brace whilst Mark Percival kicked five goals to hand them their second win of the trip.
Despite dominating the opening quarter of an hour, Saints couldn’t break a resolute Coast defence.
But once Corey Lee broke through and fed Alex Clare the Academy were on top.
A stunning 70-metre break from Mark Percival then doubled Saints lead following Adam Swift’s strong carry and Roughley’s short side pass.
Going in 12-0 at half time, Saints knew they needed to keep up the pressure if they were to repeat the 26-6 win over Wests Tigers earlier in the week.
And they did just that, making it 18-0 on 43 minutes when Lewis Galbraith scored after good work from Brad Ashurst, Danny Yates and Dom Speakman.
Percival notched his third conversion of the afternoon – but Central Coast cut the lead back five minutes later.
Saints weren’t to give it up though, and Roughley bagged the first of a brace when Danny Yates took on the line and combined with Jones and Speakman for the hooker to cross.
And it got better as Roughley got his second on 69 minutes thanks to great work from Percival and Clare.
The Central Coast came back with a couple of scores of their own, but they sandwiched a fine Adam Swift effort.
With five minutes left Jamie Tracey swept up a loose ball and scorched up the field, being tackled 10 from the line.
But Jordon Heaton moved into dummy half and fed Swift who used his pace and power to go over by the posts.
Jack Jones tagging on the extras.
“This was another solid performance by the Saints,” Head of Youth Mike Rush said. “A number of the young players once again showed they have a bright future at the club.
“Speakman and Yates had a good game at half-back whilst Savelio, Charnock, Percival, Ashurst and Richards at prop all went well.
“But we aren’t resting on our laurels and know we will need to get better if we are to beat both Cronulla and Penrith later in the tour.”
Match Summary:
Central Coast:
Tries: TBC
Goals: TBC
Saints:
Tries: Clare, Percival (2), Galbraith, Roughley, Swift
Goals: Percival (5 from 5), Jones (1 from 1)
HT: 12-0
FT: 36-14
Teams:
Central Coast:
Hunt; Lane, Riley, Doherty, Angeles; Hennessy, Walsh; Almon, Woodley, Schreider, Wylie, Coleman-Harris, Bateup.
Subs: Farquharson, Keighran, Vassallo, Montgomery, Nicholls, Dawson, Easton, Drew.
Saints:
Lee; Parry, Galbraith, Percival, Tracey, Speakman; Yates, Ashurst; Foster, Richards, Clare, Tilley, Savelio.
Subs: Charnock, Swift, Jones, Conor, Fields, Roughley, Heaton, Wood, Scott.
Want more from the Tour?
Day 8: Preparation
Day 7: Build Up
Day 6: Four Nations
Day 5: Rest Day
Day 4: Wests Tigers 6 Saints 26
Day 2 & 3: Tigers and Panthers
Day 1: Arrived Safe and Sound
