Saints scholars ran out 58-10 winners against the Bradford Bulls, with a flurry of late tries and some high-quality efforts.
The Saints started the game well, and forced the Bulls into an early goal-line drop out. A charging run from Jake Davies saw him break through the Bradford line before being brought down 15 out from the line. With the Saints in good field position, the ball was eventually played to the right to Ellis Anderson who set sight on the right corner, and went over to score the first try of the night. George Whitby converted the conversion from out wide, 6-0.
15 minutes into the game the scholars doubled their lead when Whitby threw a great dummy and went straight through the Bradford defence in the middle of the field, when he then unselfishly delivered the ball to supporting Cole Marsh to go over and score to the right of the posts. Whitby converted, 12-0.
The Bulls then kicked out on the full from kick-off, gifting the Saints with some more great field position. With the Saints camped down in the Bulls 20 metre area, the ball was flung out to Daniel Hill who incredibly beat two defenders and got away to score with a diving finish in the right corner. Whitby’s conversion attempt narrowly went wide, 16-0.
With 28 minutes gone Bradford got themselves on the board. The ball was kicked to the corner, where Rocco Talbot-Piggott did well to claim the ball stopping the Bulls from scoring, before being tackled into touch. Bradford shifted the ball left where Issac Lee went over in the corner. Samuel Ackroyd’s kick went wide, leaving the score at 16-4.
The Saints replied just 3 minutes later, when Marsh scooped the ball up from the play the ball and dummied the defence and broke from the halfway line downfield, where he found Deacon Swarbrick with an over the top pass, who then gave the ball to the supporting Owen Dagnall who crossed for his first.
Saints started the second half the same way they started the first. After setting up for a set 20 out from the Bradford line after receiving a penalty for a tip, the ball was played right where Harry Robertson gave a short ball to Swarbrick who got down to score. Whitby’s conversion was successful, extending the lead to 28-4.
The Bulls replied themselves at the 50 minute mark when repeated sets on the Saints line finally paid dividends when Jacob Bateman crashed over when he received the ball right in front of the line. Ackroyd was successful with the kick, cutting the lead back to 18 with the score 28-10.
Just as the 60th minute passed, the Saints got themselves on the board again. Whitby delivered a lovely looping ball out to the left to Dagnall who beat two defenders to go over and score in the left corner. Whitby converted from out wide, 34-10.
In the 65th minute, the Saints struck again after some brilliant individual play from Dagnall on the right saw him fend off two defenders on the halfway line and deliver an incredible flick pass to Talbot-Piggott who raced away and scored under the sticks. Whitby converted from right in front, as the side hit the 40 point mark, 40-10.
Straight away the Saints scored again, when Harry Robertson broke from his own 30 metres and skipped past the Bradford fullback to go and score to the left of the posts. Whitby converted again, 46-10.
At the 73rd minute mark Anderson scored his second of the game when he claimed a towering kick to the corner from Robertson, he got down low to score in the right corner. Whitby nailed the sideline kick, 52-10.
The final action of the game was the ball played out wide to the left on the halfway line, where Rory Holiday gave the ball inside to William Keeley who ran away to score to the left of the posts. Whitby converted his last goal of the game, ending the game with the Saints taking a big 58-10 win over Bradford!
Match Summary
Saints team: Will Roberts, Daniel Hill, Ellis Anderson, Owen Dagnall, Rocco Talbot-Piggott, Harry Robertson, George Whitby, Malachi Price, Jamie O’Keeffe, Jake Davies, Keane Elms, Harry Rigby, Cole Marsh.
Bench: Rory Holiday, William Keeley, Morgan Barraclough-Watson, Liam Smethurst, Deacon Swarbrick, Kian McGann
Tries: Owen Dagnall (2), Ellis Anderson (2), Harry Robertson, Cole Marsh, Rocco Talbot-Piggott, Daniel Hill, Deacon Swarbrick, William Keeley.
Goals: George Whitby (9 from 10).
Bradford team: George Rayner, Connor Sayner, Joe Ward, Joel Lincoln, Issac Lee, Jack Ward, Samuel Ackroyd, Cobie Wainhouse, Xanda Rycroft, Conlan Mawson, Macall Baker, Jacob Bateman, Patrick O’Reilly-Milner.
Bench: Louie Beattie, Brody Duckmanton, Jamie Gill, Henry Welsh, Eddie Salkeld, Harvey Duckworth, George McKinley.
Tries: Issac Lee, Jacob Bateman.
Goals: Samuel Ackroyd (1 from 2).
