Saints remain top of the Betfred Super League table following our second win over the Easter period, after a 24-12 success over Huddersfield at the John Smith's Stadium.
๐ดโช ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐! ๐ดโช
Our Easter Monday 17 locked in! ๐#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 18, 2022
Saints took an early lead after Konrad Hurrell made a strong break down the heart of the Giants defence on the fourth tackle and on the last the ball was thrown from right to left and Jake Wingfield threw a cut-out pass over three Saints heads to Jon Bennison on the wing, he then stepped inside past three scrambling Giants defenders to score under the sticks. Tommy Makinson added the extras, 6-0.
Saints maintained the pressure on the Giants’ line, however Joey Lussick was judged to have thrown a forward pass as Alex Walmsley headed for the sticks so the lead remained at just six points.
YES @JonBennison ๐#COYS pic.twitter.com/XjgMKtfGYz
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 18, 2022
Huddersfield’s first chance at the Saints line came 25 minutes into the first half off the back of a penalty. They opted to run the ball down the short side on the last tackle and broke through the Saints line, however a great last-ditch tackle from Jack Welsby stopped the hosts inches short of the try-line. Huddersfield did respond around the half-hour mark though. Saints with an error when trying to get the ball out of their own in-goal and the Giants shifted the ball to their right wing which saw Ashton Golding go over in the corner. Oliver Russell converted, 6-6.
Saints had the chance to take the lead just before the half-time hooter. Agnatius Paasi with a strong carry under the sticks and was impeded as he tried to play the ball, Makinson added the two, 8-6 Saints led.
There was time for Huddersfield to level the scores at the break, as LMS hit the kicker late and the hosts had a penalty in front of the sticks, which Russell converted to make it 8-8.
Tui Lolohea then attempted to kick a drop goal to put the Giants into the lead for the first time on the hooter, but his effort didn’t make it off the ground as the sides went in level at 8-8 at half-time.
HT: ๐ฎ๐ Giants 8-8 Saints ๐ดโช
All square at the break in Huddersfield…#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 18, 2022
Saints re-gained their lead shortly into the second half. After sustained pressure on the Giants line including a goal-line dropout, we elected to run the ball on the last tackle which saw Mark Percival run the perfect line to stretch out to score in the left corner. Makinson converted from the left touchline, 14-8.
๐ช๐ฝ @MarkPercival22 with a crucial Try! #COYS pic.twitter.com/Rvn2zFTTeC
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 18, 2022
But Huddersfield responded with their second try off the back of a Saints error as Welsby looked to offload the ball close to the Giants line, that allowed Lolohea to race the length of the field to score. Russell missed the conversion, Saints led 14-12.
Huddersfield then had another chance to break down the opposite wing this time, but Makinson made a great tackle to push Innes Senior into touch.
The visitors then re-took the lead as Joe Batchelor ran a great line onto the ball, broke through the Giants line and stretched out to score to the left of the sticks. Makinson converted again, 20-12 Saints led.
Saints’ wrapped it up shortly before the full time hooter as off the back of a scrum in the Giants 10, Jonny Lomax squeezed over from close range. Makinson missed the conversion, 24-12.
That was to be the final score of the game as Saints made it successive wins over Easter with a 24-12 victory over the Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium!
FT: ๐ฎ๐ Giants 12-24 Saints ๐ดโช
๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ! ๐ช#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 18, 2022
Match Summary
Huddersfield Giants Team:ย Tui Lolohea, Ashton Golding, Leroy Cudjoe, Louis Senior, Innes Senior, Jack Cogger, Oliver Russell, Joe Greenwood, Adam O’Brien, Oliver Wilson, Josh Jones, Jack Ashworth, Michael Lawrence.
Interchanges:ย Danny Levi, Nathan Mason, Luke Yates, Sam Hewitt.
Tries:ย Ashton Golding (30), Tui Lolohea (53)
Conversions:ย Oliver Russell (1 from 2)
Penalties:ย Oliver Russell (1 from 1)
Saints Team:ย Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, James Roby, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Jake Wingfield.
Interchanges:ย James Bell, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Dan Norman.
Tries:ย Jon Bennison (6), Mark Percival (48), Joe Batchelor (62), Jonny Lomax (75)
Conversions:ย Tommy Makinson (3 from 4)
Penalties:ย Tommy Makinson (1 from 1)
HT:ย 8-8
FT:ย 12-24
