Saints suffered our third Super League defeat of the season in Perpignan following a narrow 20-18 loss against the Catalans Dragons on Saturday evening.
โซ๐ง ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐! โซ๐ง
Your Saints team to face @DragonsOfficiel in Perpignan! ๐ซ๐ท
#COYS— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 2, 2022
Saints started well and took an early sixth minute lead. The visitors were camped on the Dragons line and threw the ball from right to left which saw James Roby find Jonny Lomax, he passed to Jack Welsby and he found Sione Mata’utia to stroll over in the corner. Tommy Makinson was unable to convert, 4-0 we led.
Perfect start for Saints ๐
Catch all the action live on Sky Sports Mix ๐บ#SuperLeague #SLCatStH pic.twitter.com/ZyhiS3gbeV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 2, 2022
Our lead was extended with a great long range try shortly after. From Saints’ 40 the ball was worked down the short side on their right, Makinson broke down the right wing and found Lomax on his inside, he then returned the pass to Makinson and he scored in the corner. Tommy was unable to convert his own try, 8-0 Saints led.
Scintillating Saints attack. ๐ฅ
The Champions double their lead live on Sky Sports Mix ๐ฟ#SuperLeague #SLCatStH pic.twitter.com/hbTfrNvlGC
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 2, 2022
Dylan Napa was then sent to the sin bin for the hosts in the 23rd minute for a high shot on Ben Davies. Minutes later Saints were denied by the video referee as Davies went to ground a grubber kick from Roby, but Catalans managed to ground the ball in goal just before he could dive on the loose ball.
The hosts did grab their first try of the game in the 31st minute though. A kick to the corner was caught by Fouad Yaha, he found Matthieu Laguerre on his inside and he just about got the ball down before Lomax could push him into touch. Sam Tomkins’ conversion went a long way wide, 8-4 Saints led.
The Dragons then levelled the scores a minute before the break. Yaha broke down the left wing and kicked inside, nobody was able to claim the bouncing ball until Josh Drinkwater grounded it under the sticks. Tomkins converted as the hooter went, so the hosts led 10-8 at the break in Perpignan.
HT: ๐ Dragons 10-8 Saints โซ๏ธ๐ง
Despite early tries from Mataโutia and Makinson, we trail by two at the break.#COYS pic.twitter.com/dJXLV6MtZj
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 2, 2022
Saints re-gained their lead four minutes into the second half. We earned a repeat set in Dragons territory after they fumbled a Lomax kick. After a few tackles Saints worked the ball right from under the sticks and Welsby threw a great cut-out pass to find Davies and he scored in the corner. He was unable to convert his own try after taking over kicking duties from the injured Makinson, 12-10 Saints led.
Catalans’ then re-took the lead in the 53rd minute. They went down their left edge as Drinkwater and Matt Whitley threw a one-two, Drinkwater then found Samisoni Langi who went over for the hosts. Tomkins converted, 16-12 the Dragons led.
The Dragons further extended their lead just after the hour mark. Mitchell Pearce threw a cut-out pass to their right wing and Arthur Romano found Dean Whare on his inside to stroll over. Tomkins was unable to convert, 20-12 Saints trailed.
Saints replied quickly though. Welsby stripped the ball from Sam Kasiano one on one and strolled over underneath the sticks to score. Davies converted to make it 20-18 to the hosts.
Daylight robbery ๐ณ
Dragons lead reduced to just 2๏ธโฃ points…
Big final 10 coming up live on Sky Sports Mix#SuperLeague #SLCatStH pic.twitter.com/BILdz4I9p7
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 2, 2022
Saints went within inches of claiming the two points with five minutes to go. We worked the ball left and Mata’utia found Regan Grace who dove for the corner, but the video referee ruled no try as the ball went into touch before the Welsh winger could ground the ball. That was to be the closest thing to points we saw during the closing minutes, as Saints were beaten 20-18 by the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.
FT: ๐ Dragons 20-18 Saints โซ๏ธ๐ง
Itโs a narrow defeat for Saints in Perpignan. #COYS pic.twitter.com/PDlGBCzGTP
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 2, 2022
Match Summary
Catalans Dragons Team:ย Sam Tomkins, Matthieu Laguerre, Dean Whare, Samisoni Langi, Fouad Yaha, Mitchell Pearce, Josh Drinkwater, Dylan Napa, Michael McIlorum, Gil Dudson, Benjamin Julien, Matt Whitley, Mickael Goudemand.
Interchanges:ย Alrix Da Costa, Arthur Romano, Paul Seguier, Sam Kasiano.
Tries:ย Matthieu Laguerre (31), Josh Drinkwater (39), Samisoni Langi (53), Dean Whare (62)
Conversions:ย Sam Tomkins (2 from 4)
Sin Bin:ย Dylan Napa (23)
Saints Team:ย Jonathan Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Ben Davies, Sione Mata’utia, Regan Grace, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges:ย Joey Lussick, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell.
Tries:ย Sione Mata’utia (6), Tommy Makinson (15), Ben Davies (44), Jack Welsby (65)
Conversions:ย Tommy Makinson (0 from 2), Ben Davies (1 from 2)
HT:ย 10-8
FT:ย 20-18
