Saints returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 46-4 win over Whitehaven in a sunny Cumbria and with it booked our place in the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals.
β«π§ ππΌππππ πππΌπ ππππ! β«π§
π @ReganGrace5 makes his first appearance of 2022! There is also a return for @batjoelor and a start for Jake Wingfield as @MorgsKnowles misses out. Sam Royle gets the fourth bench spot.#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 26, 2022
The hosts came out flying and had the chance to go ahead after winning a penalty in front of the sticks, but Haven opted to run it rather than take the two and Saints saw the attack out well.
Saints weathered the early storm and after a tight first 20 minutes, it was Saints who took the lead mid-way through the first period. A move which started in the middle saw Joey Lussick throw left to Jake Wingfield, he then found Lewis Dodd who then put Joe Batchelor through a gap to open the scoring on his return. Tommy Makinson added the extras, 6-0.
The lead was added to 10 minutes later. A similar move to the first try, but this time down the right-hand side as Lussick found Dodd, he then found the impressive Curtis Sironen who made a good step before powering his way over the line. Makinson added the extras, 12-0.
The third Saints try came four minutes before the break, Lussick once again involved as he found former Whitehaven man Kyle Amor close to the line and he powered his way over from close range to score on his return to his old ground. Makinson once again added the extras, 18-0.
That was the score as we headed into the break, as Saints led 18-0 after the first 40 minutes in Cumbria.
π€ @KyleJAmor87 is over against his former club!
π @Betfred #ChallengeCup
Watch on @TheSportsman π https://t.co/ayd8JIuqfx pic.twitter.com/LyTiZWK3LT
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) March 26, 2022
Whitehaven, to their credit, grabbed the first try of the second period. Saints missed tackles down their right edge and were unable to stop Karl Dixon from grounding the ball in Whitehaven’s left corner. The conversion landed nowhere near, 18-4.
Saints ensured that it was only a consolation try though as off the back of an Amor carry close to the Haven line, Lussick threw left from under the sticks to Dan Norman who jumped through a gap to score. Makinson added the extras, 24-4.
Our fifth try quickly followed. A good move started by Sironen who made a break. He found Dodd who fed Norman who found further yardage. The ball was then fed through the hands of Lussick and Dodd again who fed Norman and he offloaded to Lussick who then retuned the ball to Dodd to sprint away and score under the sticks. Makinson added the extras, 30-4.
π | @Saints1890 are enjoying themselves now!
Dodd finishes off a brilliant move.
Watch LIVE π@Betfred | @TheChallengeCup
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) March 26, 2022
A sixth Saints try followed in the 66th minute. A Jonny Lomax kick was not dealt with and Mark Percival was the first to ground the loose ball and score. Makinson was unable to add the extras, 34-4.
After being involved in what seemed to be every try of the game so far, Lussick was finally able to get over himself six minutes from time, as he spotted a gap from dummy half and burrowed his way over from close range. Makinson added the two, 40-4.
Saints were able to add an eighth and final try with the last play of the game. A Lomax grubber kick was somehow kept in play by Dodd who palmed the ball back to captain James Roby who touched the ball down for a try on his 499th Saints appearance. Makinson added the extras, as Saints won 46-4 in Cumbria to progress to the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals.
π | Roby gets in on the act and that's that!@OfficialHavenRl 4@Saints1890 46
A thoroughly enjoyable cup tie! @Betfred | @TheChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/jSlXHENsPc
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) March 26, 2022
Match Summary
Whitehaven Team:Β Geronimo Doyle, Dave Eccleston, Will Evans, Connor Holiday, Andrew Bulman, Karl Dixon, Nikau Williams, Liam McAvoy, Alex Bishop, Guy Graham, Ryan King, Liam Cooper, Tom Wilkinson.
Interchanges:Β Callum Phillips, Tom Walker, Dion Aiye, Jake Bradley.
Tries:Β Karl Dixon (47)
Conversions:Β Alex Bishop (0 from 1)
Saints Team:Β Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Agnatius Paasi, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Jake Wingfield.
Interchanges:Β James Roby, Kyle Amor, Dan Norman, Sam Royle.
Tries:Β Joe Batchelor (20), Curtis Sironen (30), Kyle Amor (37), Dan Norman (54), Lewis Dodd (57), Mark Percival (66), Joey Lussick (74), James Roby (80)
Conversions:Β Tommy Makinson (7 from 8)
HT:Β 0-18
FT:Β 4-46
