IT would have been very easy for the U18’s to have seen the ease with which the U15’s & U16’s had won both their games and then succumbed to the pressure of keeping the run going especially seeing one or two familiar names in the City Reds line-up. However, this was not the case with the U18’s probably producing the most convincing display of the day – a 58-10 win.
The game was over as a contest at quarter time with the Saints three tries to good. André Savelio opened the scoring with the first of his hat-trick pushing through at the posts.
Ben Roberts scored a great wingers try weaving in and out, mesmerising his former team mate jack Jones in the process to touch down in the corner for the second.
The third was a simple reach out by Lewis Foster punishing a poor kick from the visitors.
An overlap down the Saints left allowed Salford for a try but a trademark surge from Brad Ashurst saw him halted inches short. From the play the ball Tom Roughley dummied his winger before cutting back inside to score a good try.
The forwards were in total command now with the visitors finding it increasingly difficult to stop the rampaging runs from Ashurst, Matt Cook, James Tilley and the pick of the bunch Luke Thompson. Savelio scored his second from one of these runs reaching over to score.
The second half continued in the same processional fashion as the first. A neat drop off pass from Lewis Sheridan put Galbraith in and a hard miss pass from Roughley, now operating at hooker, gave Chris Webster a well-deserved try.
The visitors punished Saints sleeping marker defence with a try from dummy half unfortunately just after Leon Tatlock had done well to save a try in the corner.
Savelio completed his hat-trick as he stole the ball from the hands of the full back as he tried to gather Jordan Heaton’s grubber kick to the corner.
Lewis Charnock cleaned up a scrappy piece of play making a neat break down the middle before offloading it to the supporting Brandon Lewis for his first try in the red vee.
And it was Charnock who finished the scoring stretching out to score himself from Savelio’s inside ball.
This wasn’t the best that the 18s have played but it was far too good for a poor City Reds side which flattered to deceive.
It was good to see the return of Connor Dwyer in Saints colours after his injury worries adding to an already destructive pack led by the ever improving tourist to be Luke Thompson and an encouraging debut from Matt Wood.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Lewis Charnock, Lewis Galbraith, Ben Roberts, Lewis Foster, André Savelio 3, Chris Webster, Brandon Lewis, Tom Roughley.
Goals: Lewis Charnock 9.
Salford:
Tries: Ryan Kelly, Dan Lomax.
Goals: Dan Lomax.
Half Time: 28-4
Full Time: 58-10
Teams:
Saints:
1. Lewis Charnock; 2. Leon Tatlock, 4. Tom Roughley, 18. Lewis Galbraith, 5. Ben Roberts; 6. Jordan Heaton, 7. Lewis Sheridan; 8. Brad Ashurst, 9. Lewis Foster, 10. Matt Cooke, 11. Luke Thompson, 12. André Savelio, 13. James Tilley.
Subs: 14. Brandon Lewis, 15. Matt Wood, 16. Chris Webster, 17. Connor Dwyer.
Salford:
1. Jack Holmes; 2. Ryan Kelly, 3. Edwin Okanga-Ajwang, 4. Jon Ford, 5. Jack Moses; 6. Jack Jones, 7. Theo Fages; 8. Jonny Griffiths, 9. Harry Files, 10. Jack Green, 11. George Tyson, 12. Connor Partington, 13. Connor Hesketh.
Subs: 14. Dan Lomax, 15. Matty Gee, 16. Tom Goffath, 17. Danny Wells.
