SAINTS completed their third win over the Tigers this season with a comprehensive 52-6 display at a rain soaked Langtree Park, writes Graham Henthorne.
Three tries in the opening quarter of an hour put the writing on the wall for the visitors and three further four pointers later in the half put the game beyond the Tigers.
Morgan Knowles, enjoying life in the second row for a change got the scoring under way in the fifth minute taking advantage of a bizarre gift pass from the Tigers full back who literally handed the ball to him 10 metres out from the line.
A massive defensive effort had kept the Tigers pinned in their own end prior to this try and this was the story of the day for the visitors who had to resort to increasingly novel ways to get away from their own line due to the punishing defence of the Saints.
A huge 40/20 kick from Danny Richardson, which actually went into touch on the Tigers 1 metre line, eventually resulted in a try for Aaron Smith as the hooker darted over at the side of the posts.
In contrast to the visitors the Saints, led from the front by Captain Joe Ryan, were finding it easy to make ground down the middle of the field. Runs from Ross McCauley and Levy Nzoungou put the Saints on the Tigers line and a great miss pass from Ricky Bailey gave Dave Eccleston an easy touch down in the right corner.
He got his second after a scrum on the visitors’ 40 metre line. The ball was spread right, Matty Costello poked his nose through the line then passed it out to give his winger space to round his opposite number for the score.
Bailey (pictured against Warrington) got just reward for his support play as he took Richardson’s inside ball to go over at the posts to put the Saints 28 points to the good after a similar amount of time.
The Tigers then brought the Saints back down to earth with a long range try. A chip over the defensive line on tackle 2 was taken by the left winger who rounded Eccleston on his way to the line.
The “comeback” was short-lived, however, as Knowles scored his second at the break. Ryan’s fabulous offload was taken on the burst by Richardson who gave Knowles a clear run to the line as the second row ran a great inside cross over line wrong footing the defence.
The opening of the second half was greeted with a torrential downpour which affected handling and restricted any thoughts of expansive play.
Jonah Cunningham scored a trademark try plunging low at dummy half to get the scoring under way in the second period with his hooking partner Smith going in for his brace with a similar effort on his re-introduction.
Regan Grace rounded off the scoring and the match with his customary try in the corner benefiting from quick hands from Bailey and Calvin Wellington.
Next week’s trip to play Hull FC will present the Saints with a much sterner task than was faced today in the form of the Tigers as they look to gain revenge for the Saints two earlier victories.
Phil Atherton and Chris Worrall did well off the bench assisting Ryan down the middle with Richardson and Fairclough moving the team around the field well.
Match Summary:
Saints U19s:
Tries: Morgan Knowles 2 (5, 38), Aaron Smith 2 (10, 64), Dave Eccleston 2 (14, 24), Ricky Bailey (29), Jonah Cunningham (53), Regan Grace (78).
Goals: Danny Richardson 8.
Castleford U19s:
Tries: Declan Sheehan (34).
Goals: Kieran Gill.
Half Time: 34-6
Full Time: 52-6
Teams:
Saints:
18. Ricky Bailey; 2. Dave Eccleston, 3. Matty Costello, 4. Calvin Wellington, 5. Regan Grace; 6. Danny Richardson, 7. Rob Fairclough; 8. Ross McCauley, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Levy Nzoungou, 11. Olly Davies, 13. Morgan Knowles, 21. Joe Ryan.
Subs: 15. Chris Worrall, 16. Ben Morris, 20. Jonah Cunningham, 23. Phil Atherton.
Castleford:
1. Ash Robson; 5. Pat Diskin, 3. Russ Barton, 4. Kieran Gill, 2. Declan Sheehan; 6. Luke Adamson, 7. Tom Holmes; 8. Rory Dickson, 9. Brandon Moore, 10. Will Maher, 19. Will Plimmer, 12. Brandon Pickup, 13. Connor Fitzsimons.
Subs: 14. Luke Million, 15. Connor Hughes, 16. Brandon Douglas, 18. Davey Dixon.
