St Helens Scholarship U16s 30 v 18 Huddersfield Giants Scholarship U16s
The subtropical climes of Thatto Heath tested the metal of players and supporters alike as the U16s continued their winning ways on Sunday.
Driving rain cut through to the bone but the players of both sides rose above and served up a high quality game for those hardy souls.
The Saints were first on the scoresheet as Alex Eckley drove over under the sticks to score after good work from props Rob Horton and Jordan Olmez.
The Saints had scorned three overlap chances down their left flank before the Giants took the hint and burned the Saints down the same side. The winger made the most of his overlap and some indecisive defensive play from his opposite number and full back.
The Giants then took the lead as they exploited the other flank this time the left centre driving between two would be tacklers leaving it to each other.
So the Saints were behind again in a match and being tested again and again they rose to the occasion.
Harry Coleman continued his run of scoring in every match so far this season as he drove over, again under the sticks, after the side had bulldozed down the middle of the park.
But the decisive scores in the match came in the final five minutes of the half and both involved substitute hooker Paul Nash.
Firstly, it was his pass straight from the play the ball which missed out two players but found his winger Cameron Brown in acres of space to cross in the right corner.
The second, came when he was alive at the play the ball to take the offload from Coleman to fall over the line for a deserved score of his own.
The Saints were the first to score after the break increasing their lead as Callum Hazzard took a delightful inside ball from Elliott Jenkins 30 metres out. The second rower steamed onto the pass before rounding the full back on his way to the posts.
The Giants stayed in contention again testing the Saints out wide with a try in the corner and were denied a try with a crucial tackle from Captain Chris Follin holding his opposing centre up over the line on the last.
A great settling run out of defence from debutant Sean Croston set the Saints on a roll and four drives later the Giants full back was kicking Jenkins’ relieving kick out into touch under pressure from the Saints chase. From the scrum Kevin Brown made the game safe sprinting around the defensive line to score in the left corner.
The Giants got a consolation score with the last touch of the game but the Saints were worthy winners.
Match Summary:
St Helens U16s:
Tries: Cameron Brown, Alex Eckley, Harry Coleman, Callum Hazzard, Paul Nash, Kevin Brown.
Goals: Jacob Cummings 3.
Huddersfield Giants U16s:
Tries: Jacob Wardle, Dominic Senior, Ronan Costello, John Luke Kirby.
Goals: Jack Richardson.
Half Time: 20-8
Full Time: 30-18
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jacob Cummings; 20. Cameron Brown, 3. George Newman, 4. Chris Follin (C), 5. Sean Croston; 6. Ben Heyes, 7. Elliot Jenkins; 8. Rob Horton, 9. Brad Pinder , 10. Jordan Olmez, 11. Danny Edwards, 12. Jack Grimes, 13. Alex Eckley.
Subs: 2. Kevin Brown, 14. Paul Nash, 15. Callum Hazzard, 16. Tom Pinder, 17. Ben Twist, 18. Jorge Lewtas, 19. Harry Coleman.
Giants:
1. Ethan Salm; 5. Dominic Senior, 3. Jacob Wardle, 4. Paul Foulstone, 2. James Walker; 6. Finley Hickey, 7. Jack Flynn; 8. Damian Wood, 9. Jamie Greenwood, 10. Tom Hugill, 11. Ronan Costello, 12. Jack Richardson, 13. John Luke Kirby.
Subs: 14. Jack Duggin, 15. Sam Hewitt, 16. Alfie Copley, 17. Ethan Ferry, 18. Sam Smith, 19. Reece Boxall Hunt, 20. Connor Murphy.
