Our Saints U16s fielded no less than seven U15’s prospects, including three debutants, in a side who impressively beat the Huddersfield Giants on Wednesday evening.
HIGHLIGHTS – Subscribers can watch the FULL game on Saints TV.
REPORT
The game was only 3 minutes old when the Saints opened the scoring. A high last tackle Will Roberts kick was lost in the sun by the Giants winger giving the Saints a repeat set. Two tackles later George Whitby started his accomplished debut match with a cut-out pass which gave Dayon Sambou space to put his winger Owen Dagnall in at the corner.
The Saints were dominating field position and ten minutes later this again produced the goods. The very impressive Harry Robertson went over for the first of his hat-trick rounding his opposite number and the covering fullback with ease to the corner.
From the kick off a good kick chase got the Saints a repeat set and after Whitby had been held up over the line the ball went right only for Harvey Braddish to step off his right and go under the posts for the Saints third. Jonathon Vaughan tagged on the extras to give the Saints a 14-point lead.
On the resumption Vaughan was pushed into touch when a simple pass to his winger would have seen Daniel Walsh in. But we needn’t have worried as Robertson again showed his pace rounding his man with ease to stroll over in the corner.
A great kick chase saw the Saints get a repeat set and three tackles later Robertson had a try disallowed for a faulty touchdown.
It took a full 30 minutes before the Giants put any pressure on the Saints line but some fine defence held them up then diffused the last tackle kick.
Two drives later and Robertson this time turned provider. His half break and offload put Ciaran Nolan through on a 40-metre run. As he was caught from behind his quick play the ball gave Roberts the chance to dummy his way over under the posts.
There was just time before the break for the Saints to show their skill and vision. The ball had gone through many hands in the Giants red zone when Vaughan’s inside pass found Roberts who cross kicked into acres of space down the left. Owen Dagnall responded first catching the ball horizontally but spilling it as he hit the ground.
The second half saw Noah Stephens rather harshly sin-binned for kicking out in the tackle. But two minutes later his prop partner Alfie Sinclair went over under the posts after Roberts had twice side-stepped his way past the defence.
Just as the ban was ending the Giants finally made their numbers count going in down their left. From the restart good defence forced the knock-on. Drives from Stephens and the ever-impressive Sam Oakes gave Roberts space to throw a miss pass to Vaughan who put Daniel Walsh in the right corner.
The Saints were in total control now and again from the restart swept downfield were Robertson scored his hat-trick stepping inside three to go in.
Ten minutes later he proved he can defend as well as attack as, deputising at fullback for the injured Braddish, his last-ditch tackle put the giants Captain into touch.
Keane Elms saw two tries go begging first knocking-on then being held up before with the last action Roberts again stepped his way over for his second of the night.
This was as comprehensive a win as you could want to see and especially sweet from such a young side.
Huddersfield U16s Team: Oliver Whitford; Baily Fitzgibbon, Jayden Billy (C), Declan Knapping, Matthew Hanley; Leo Ward, Ciaran Rastrick; Kameron Siddique, Sonny Cooper, Mitchell Gray, Jack Billington, Darius Carter, Louis Gibson.
Interchanges:Andrew Gill, Kyle Baines, Tyler Southernwood, Max Merta, Yvann Fotso Kamgang, Ryan Joseph.
Tries: Ryan Joseph (51).
Saints U16s Team: Harvey Braddish; Owen Dagnall, Harry Robertson, Dayon Sambou, Daniel Walsh; George Whitby, Will Roberts; Noah Stephens, Ciaran Nolan (C), Sam Oakes, Jonathon Vaughan, Jacob Bloxham, Niall Dean.
Interchanges: Cole Marsh, Harry Rigby, Alfie Sinclair, Will Cowen, Keane Elms.
Tries: Owen Dagnall (3), Harry Robertson (12, 22 & 57), Harvey Braddish (16), Will Roberts (32 & 79), Alfie Sinclair (45), Daniel Walsh (54).
Goals: Jonathon Vaughan 5 from 9.
HT: 0-24
FT: 4-46
