Saints U16s kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought victory over Leeds in a game of two halves. Watch the highlights below.
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MATCH REPORT
The game couldn’t have started any better as a break by Captain George Whitby set Saints away down field, before a quick play the ball was scooped up by Cole Marsh who broke past the retreating Leeds line to score the first try of the season for the Scholars. Whitby converted the try to give the side a 6-0 lead after 2 minutes.
3 minutes later, the lead was doubled following a great break from Harry Robertson as he burst through the defence and found Ellis Anderson supporting from the right side to race away and score the Saints second try. Whitby again converted the try to give the Saints a 12-0 advantage.
The points didn’t stop there, as after repeated pressure attacking the Leeds line, Whitby played a flat ball to Keane Elms who crashed over to the right of the post, giving Whitby an easy conversion to kick. 18-0 Saints led after 10 minutes.
Just before the break, Whitby got himself a well-deserved try after the ball was played to the right, he threw a dummy and went through to score under the sticks. He converted his own try and we entered the break with a 24-0 lead.
Leeds began the second half strong with an early try from Lloyd Mcewan-Peters, who claimed a kick in the air to score, Kai Taylor-Smith couldn’t convert the score.
After a few Saints errors, Leeds scored again through Harry Taylor, as he touched down in the left corner despite the efforts of the Saints defence to hold him up. Taylor-Smith converted the score taking the game to 24-10 in favour of the Saints with 30 minutes to go.
The game became a physical battle, but after a penalty to Leeds on our own line and with the momentum, they shifted the ball quick to the left and Taylor went over to get his second of the game. The conversion was missed by Taylor-Smith, 24-14.
Just as the game entered it’s final 10 minutes, Leeds crossed over again as Josh Hepworth claimed a towering kick to the middle of the field and score under the sticks, Taylor-Smith converted the try, leaving the game at 24-20 going into the final stage.
But it was Saints who would cross over last, after receiving the ball back from a goal-line drop out, we worked our way back up to the Leeds line, before shifting the ball left where Louie Roberts gave a lovely ball to Owen Dagnall who crossed over for the final try of the game to seal the win for Saints. Whitby missed the conversion from out wide, leaving the final score at 28-20.
The first W for the U16s! 💪#COYS pic.twitter.com/SmxGdBS5em
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 23, 2022
Match Summary
Saints U16s: Louie Roberts, Daniel Hill, Ellis Anderson, Owen Dagnall, Rocco Talbot-Piggott, Harry Robertson, George Whitby, Daniel Frost, Cole Marsh, Callum Cottington, Keane Elms, Deacon Swarbrick, Jake Davies.
Interchanges: Harry Rigby, Morgan Barraclough-Watson, Austin Daniel, Malachi Price, Jamie O’Keefe, Corey Roden.
Tries: Marsh, Anderson, Elsm, Whitby, Dagnall.
Conversions: Whitby (4 from 5).
Leeds U16s: Kai Taylor-Smith, Seru Qareqare, Sonny Pattison, Lloyd Mcewan-Peters, Harry Taylor, Fergus McCormack, Harry Smith, Bobby Hartley, Mason Corbett, Joseph Butterfield, Joshua Hepworth, Mark Nelson, Elliott Stephens.
Interchanges: David Benson, Presley Cassell, Harley Thomas, Declan Ementon, Callum Webster.
Tries: Harry Taylor (2), Hepworth, Mcewan-Peters.
Conversions: Taylor-Smith (2 from 4)
HT: 24-0
FT: 28-20
Platty Photo captured the win
