SAINTS eased into the quarter finals of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup with a 46-6 win over York City Knights.
Tommy Makinson scored four whilst Adam Swift (3), Mark Percival and Mark Flanagan also crossed in the win.
Credit has to go to the Championship One side though as they never gave up, particularly in defence as they kept Saints at bay for long periods.
But Saints’ class told in the end and they progressed to the next round.
Saints kicked off and immediately won the ball back from a York knock on. Tommy Makinson nearly went over in the corner but the hosts scored on their very next set.
Adam Swift bagging his fifth in two matches after a flowing move.
Saints had two more sets on York’s line before Mark Percival chipped ahead for Makinson’s first.
York threatened in the 20th minute with a kick through but Matty Fleming mopped up the danger.
Saints were guilty of not making their territorial advantage count – and a number of unforced errors weren’t helping.
But they did score their third try of the night on the half hour mark when a lovely kick over the top was controlled in midair by Makinson’s left boot – for the winger to touch down.
His peer on the other side of the pitch then scored his second of the evening after a flowing move he started with a tempestuous run.
Saints were in full control but York did show glimpses – mostly when they let the ball fly on the right hand side.
They did that with around three minutes left in the first half but Saints went up the other end of the field and scored through Percival.
In the second half, Tyler Craig almost profited from a piece of brilliance from York’s half Jonny Presley but was just beaten by the flight of the ball and corner flag.
Again Saints went up the other end of the field and scored – this time Tommy Makinson grabbing his hat-trick following a bobbling kick from Jon Wilkin.
On 57 minutes Makinson tagged his fourth from a move that began in Saints’ own 20.
It went wide from Burns to Percival who scorched down the wing, got it back inside to the stand-off who simply put Tommy under the posts.
Mark Flanagan tallied in the 68th minute thanks to great work from debutant Morgan Knowles and Lewis Charnock before Burns and McDonnell fed Swift for his hat-trick.
The last hurrah went to the Knights though and it was much deserved as they created enough space for Tyler Craig to go over in the corner.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Swift (3), Makinson (4), Percival, Flanagan
Goals: Burns (0 from 3), Makinson (3 from 4), Charnock (2 from 2)
Knights:
Tries: Craig
Goals: B. Dent (1 from 1)
Penalties:
Saints: 2
Knights: 3
HT: 22-0
FT: 46-6
REF: C Leatherbarrow
ATT: 3271
Teams:
Saints:
34. Shannon McDonnell; 2. Tommy Makinson, 17. Mark Percival, 30. Matty Fleming, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Travis Burns, 12. Jon Wilkin; 8. Mose Masoe, 26. Lewis Charnock, 19. Greg Richards, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Mark Flanagan, 4. Josh Jones.
Subs: 10. Kyle Amor, 25. Andre Savelio, 29. Olly Davies, 35. Morgan Knowles.
Knights:
2. Ben Dent; 25. Adam Dent, 4. Liam Cunningham, 3. Greg Minikin, 24. Tyler Craig; 6. Jonny Presley, 7. Pat Smith; 8. Mark Applegarth, 9. Harry Carter, 10. Jack Aldous, 12. Ed Smith, 15. Josh Tonks, 13. Colton Roche.
Subs: 11. Ryan Mallinder, 21. Jack Pickles, 29. Brad Nicholson, 32. Kane Riley.
