THE youngest side that the Saints are capable of putting out still managed to easily sweep aside a Cumbrian side 64-10 liberally dusted with players from down the road in Widnes, writes Graham Henthorne.
After a rocky start which saw the visitors twice denied tries due to last ditch defence over the line, the Saints put in a twelve try performance which underlined the gulf in class between the two teams.
As has been said the opening eight minutes were all Cumbrian until Jorge Lewtas sprinted off his line to intercept a pass from the third consecutive set on the Saints line. Unfortunately due to an ankle injury it was the last action for the prop which tended to even up the numbers as the visitors, even with Widnes’ help only managed to turn up with fifteen players.
The first of many attempted 40/20’s from Rob Fairclough in the afternoon saw a splendid chase from Jordan Gibbons who, assisted by an awkward bounce, was able to kick the ball out of the grasp of the full back, pick up and score at the sticks.
From this point on the flood gates opened and the game ran away from the visitors. Lewis Furlong went in on the next set, quick hands setting him free, before a great fifty metre try to Elliott Jenkins. Ben Morris’ half break and quick play the ball saw Fairclough put the impressive Callum Hazzard through the line. He took it to the full back before feeding the supporting Jenkins for the try.
An almost carbon copy five minutes later saw Captain Cooper set free down the middle. He fed the supporting Brad Pinder and the scrum half out lasted the chase over forty metres to the line.
The final ten minutes became really scrappy. Hazzard saw a certain try from Pinder’s pass ruled out for a forward pass before three consecutive penalties allowed the visitors to score on the stroke of the break.
The second half started as poorly as the first but as soon as Pinder had shot blind, dummied his way to the full back before feeding Gibbons to go around to the posts, the Saints were back in control.
Trialist Owen Smith scored his second in as many games taking Jenkins’ great short pass to go in.
Hazzard showed his ability with ball in hand as his miss pass put Jake Spedding in at the left corner.
Chris Follin enlightened an unusually quiet game for the big second row reaching out to put the ball over the whitewash and on the hour Dave Eccleston scored wide out on the right on the third repeat set.
Cumbria brought up double figures as they scored their second try, the left winger coming inside and dummying his way to the line on the right.
Again the final minutes of the half became scrappy but produced two great tries to give Spedding his hat-trick.
The first came after a fabulous mazy 40 metre break from Furlong who fed Spedding to finish his work off for him.
Then the winger showed what he can do for himself as he finished a 90 metre move. A Cumbrian kick was picked up by Fairclough, fed quickly to Hazzard who took it to and committed the full back before feeding his winger. Spedding ran 50 metres, checked inside, handed off the chasing winger and cover before rounding off under the sticks for a fine try. Gibbons eighth conversion was the final act of the game.
Billsborough and Pinder went well down the middle, Mike Weldon, Liam Cooper and Ben Morris who had to do big minutes out of position due to Lewtas’ injury all performed to their usual standards but Callum Hazzard probably edged it as the outstanding player due to his all-round work rate and blossoming talent with ball in hand.
Next week it’s the big one as the Saints make the trip over the Lump to take on our nearest and dearest on Saturday afternoon at Orrell.
Match Summary:
Saints U19s:
Tries: Jordan Gibbons (10 & 44), Lewis Furlong (14), Elliott Jenkins (20), Matty Costello (23), Brad Pinder, (28), Owen Smith (49), Jake Spedding (51, 66 &70), Chris Follin (56), David Eccleston (61).
Goals: Jordan Gibbons 8.
Cumbria U19s:
Tries: Dan Norman (39), Patrick Noutch (66) .
Goals: Kieran Mewse.
Half Time: 26-4
Full Time: 64-10
Teams:
Saints:
1. Matty Costello; 2. David Eccleston, 3. Jordan Gibbons, 4. Lewis Furlong, 5. Jake Spedding; 6. Elliott Jenkins, 7. Rob Fairclough; 8. Jorge Lewtas, 9. Brad Billsborough, 10. Alex Eckley, 11. Liam Cooper (C), 12. Chris Follin, 13. Mike Weldon.
Subs: 14. Brad Pinder, 15. Callum Hazzard, 16. Ben Morris, 17. Owen Smith.
Cumbria:
1. Billy Southwaite; 2. Ryan Dordan, 17. Jonathan Cameron, 4. Kieran Mewse, 5. Patrick Noutch; 6. Joe Satterthwaite, 7. Chris Wilson; 8. Grant Reid, 9. Jack Gordon (C), 10. Dan Norman, 11. Dan Caine, 12. Brad Walker, 13. Dom O’Brien.
Subs: 16. Jack Bond, 19. Jack Armstrong.
