Saints Academy lost out to Wigan Warriors in the derby after a 40-22 defeat at Robin Park Arena on Saturday. Watch the highlights below.
Despite falling behind in the first minute the Saints had carved out a lead in a competitive first quarter.
Three repeat sets on the run gave the Saints field position and a last tackle knock down was picked up by Jumah Sambou. The speedy centre made the most of the broken play chance weaving through three defenders to score. The first of Shay Martyn’s goals levelled it up.
Good goal line defence kept the hosts at bay before a fine 40/20 from Taylor Pemberton on the fourth tackle put the Saints on the front foot in the red zone.
Harry Brooks and Lewis Baxter were stopped short before a classic crash ball at the sticks was plucked out of the air by Cole Appleby who twisted over under the posts.
But that was as good as it got as the errors started to creep in.
A ball steal on half way put the Saints under pressure and it was back to a two-point game as the winger out sprinted a lethargic Kallem Rogers to the ball from a kick through.
Our hosts went ahead on the half hour despite being down to 12 men with a converted try under the sticks.
The Saints had a chance to snatch the lead on the stroke of half time and they ran the ball on the last tackle only for Sambou’s pass to go behind Rio Corkill in the corner.
Any optimism which the Saints came out with in the second period had well and truly evaporated as our hosts scored three back-to-back converted tries in the opening six minutes.
Reece Sumner gave the Saints fans a glimmer of hope 15 minutes in with a try down the left. Pemberton spotted a gap at dummy half and sprinted through drawing the full back before feeding it out for Sumner to go the final 20 metres for the score.
The home side extended their lead on the hour and try though they might the Saints could muster very little until the final seconds of the game.
A last tackle Pemberton chip bounced straight up in the air and as every good chaser should Sambou never gave up on it plucking it out of the grasp of the fullback before outsprinting the cover to the posts.
Wigan Warriors U19’s Team: Reagan Sumner; Joseph Robinson, Ben O’Keefe, Zach Eckersley, Jacob Kilner-Dougas; Alexander Sutton, Logan Astley; Jack Bibby; Thomas Forber; Toby Brannan; Richards Nsemba; Jack Taylor, Harvey Makin.
Interchanges: : Harvey Wilson, Kavan Rothwell, Ellis Hobson, Harvie Hill, Lewis Pinder, Billy Cannon, Reece Stanton.
Tries: Alexander Sutton (1 & 31), Jacob Kilner-Dougas (21 & 44), Joseph Robinson (41), Zach Eckersley (46), Jack Bibby (62).
Goals: Zach Eckersley 6 from 7.
Saints U19’s Team: Jonathan Bennison; Kallem Rodgers, Jumah Sambou, Owen Blackwood, Shay Martyn; Daniel Moss, Daniel Ganson; Cole Appleby, Taylor Pemberton, Harry Brooks, Kian Naylor, Reece Sumner, Lewis Baxter (C).
Interchanges: Ethan Bradbury, George Delaney, Ben Lane, Kalan Devine, Ben O’Donnell, Rio Corkill, Ellis Keppel.
Tries: Jumah Sambou (6 & 80), Cole Appleby (16), Reece Sumner (54).
Goals: Shay Martyn 3 from 4.
HT: 16-12
FT: 40-22
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Platty Photo captured the game
