The Saints lost at home to a much bigger Wakefield Trinity outfit in an entertaining game at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday. Watch the highlight and read the match report below.
Ultimately the Saints side containing 10 bottom age group players were no match for the visitors much bigger and more powerful pack.
The game started in much the same way that last week’s did with the Saints spending much of the opening minutes defending in their own 20 metre area due to a combination of errors and astute kicking from the visitors.
Finally, that pressure tolled as they went in to the right of the posts. Unlike last week, however, the Saints stopped the rot and hit back with a try of their own.
Taking advantage of back to back penalties the Saints marched upfield. On the back of drives form the ever-reliable George Delaney and, the impressive Eliot Peposhi, the ball was spread right where Ellis Archer’s miss pass put Keane Gilford in for his first.
The next 20 minutes saw possession ebb and flow as errors abounded. But it was the visitors who extended their lead just after the half hour with their big second row Leon Ruah again causing carnage in the Saints defence close to the line.
The game probably got away from the Saints in the first set after the break as Trinity caught the Saints napping running the ball down the left.
The left centre put his speedy winger away with a pass around the back of the Saints tacklers and he easily sped his way to the posts to put the Saints three scores behind.
But the Saints weren’t ready to lie down and die and two tries in a blistering five-minute spell put them right back in contention.
Gilford got his second after another Peposhi drive which was converted off the wrong touchline by stand in kicker Daniel Moss. Then a converted Alfie Pyke try brought the Saints back within two.
Moss mad a 40 metre break down the left. Two more drives put the Saints 10 metres out and from the play the ball Joe Woods’ short pass put the charging Pyke through to the line.
The defining moment came ten minutes later as a two man overlap down the right which would have seen Gilford get his hat-trick and the Saints go in front for the first time was not spotted and the chance was lost.
Trinity made the Saints pay immediately going down the other end and scoring from a last tackle chip left to bounce.
Back came the Saints with a great exit set led by Gilford and Alfie Whittle, taken on by Peposhi and Delaney. From the play the ball Dan Ganson broke passed it inside to Taylor Pemberton who, easy as you like, to it up to the fullback before passing out to the supporting Sam Haynes for the try.
But having scored, Trinity bounced back and four tackles later and the destructive Ruah barged over for the winner.
The Saints made it a barnstorming last ten minutes scoring from the restart. The kick was allowed to run dead, from the drop out Delaney charged it in. Pemberton went right from the play the ball and Peposhi crowned a great display taking three over from 10 metres out.
Unfortunately, try as they might the Saints ran out of steam and the visitors held on for a deserved win.
Saints U19’s:
Team: Ben Lane; Alfie Whittle, Owen Blackwood, Sam Haynes, Keane Gilford; Daniel Moss, Ellis Archer; Joe Woods, Ethan Bradbury, George Delaney, Ben O’Donnell, Alfie Pyke, Kalan Devine.
Interchanges: Dan Ganson, Bardyel Wells, Eliot Peposhi, Taylor Pemberton (C), Kallem Rodgers, Desmond Appiah-Kubi, Reece Sumner.
Tries: Keane Gilford (17 & 45), Alfie Pyke (49), Sam Haynes (65), Eliot Peposhi (69).
Goals:Ellis Archer 0 from 1, Daniel Moss 3 from 4.
Wakefield Trinity U19’s:
Team: James Hartley; Carter Beevers, Oliver Farrar, Oliver Pratt, Lewis Murphy; Charlie Abraham, Robbie Butterworth; Patrick O’Donovan, Kobe Poching, Samuel Eseh, Leon Ruah, Luke Mearns, Harry Bowes (C).
Interchanges: Cameron Phillis, Robbie Mann, Samuel Peel, Courage Mkuhlani, Ellis Roberts, Jack Smith, Freddie Lambert.
Tries: Robbie Butterworth (7), Leon Ruah (33 & 68), Lewis Murphy (41), Kobe Poching (60).
Goals: Robbie Butterworth 1 from 1, Robbie Mann 4 from 4.
HT: 4-12
FT: 26-30
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