A below-par St Helens were convincingly beaten in Salford after falling to a 44-12 defeat at the AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday.
β«π§ ππΌππππ πππΌπ ππππ! β«π§
Your Saints team to face @salforddevils is locked in…π
The only change from last week sees @MorgsKnowles return, whilst @joeylussick faces his former club! β#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 31, 2022
Much like the first period last week, Saints started with a few too many errors with ball in hand. Salford on two occasions making yardage after breaks from Sitaleki Akauola and then Joe Burgess, but Saints scrambled well in defence to keep the scores level.
Salford made Saints pay on 12 minutes after a penalty for a high shot gave them field position and they moved the ball from right to left with Akauola powering his way over two Saints defenders to score. Sneyd converted. 6-0 the hosts led.
The restart was then caught by Ken Sio with his foot in touch and the hosts had the ball back gain inside our own half. Brodie Croft moved the ball out to the left and Burgess punished Saints as he flew over in the corner. Sneyd missed the kick. 10-0 Salford.
Salford were in again just three minutes later as Burgess again broke free down the left and fed the supporting Sarginson who beat off the challenge of Jonny Lomax to go over. Sneyd converted. 16-0.
Curtis Sironen was then forced off with a bicep injury and the hosts were in again on 27 minutes after a cut out pass found Ken Sio in space out wide, he broke downfield and fed the supporting Watkins on his inside who went over. Sneyd missed the two. 20-0.
That wasn’t the end of the first half scoring as Burgess grabbed his second of the half. Salford won the penalty and Lafai found the speedy winger who raced past Bennison and Hurrell to touch down. Sneyd’s kick struck the post and went over. 26-0 Salford led.
Sneyd then had an on the hooter penalty from the Saints 40 fall just short, but it was an impressive showing from the hosts and Saints had much work to do in the second half.
HT: πΉ Salford 26-0 Saints β«π§
A big second half needed!#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 31, 2022
Salford came out for the second half where they left off the first as Greg Burke powered over three Saints defenders to score from close range after 53 minutes. Sneyd added the two from right in front. 32-0.
Saints finally got on the scoreboard after Jack Welsby recieved the ball from the scrum, dummied and broke clear. He was brought down inches before the line, but reached out to get the ball down. With Jonny Lomax off the field for a head assessment, Joey Lussick converted. 32-6.
Salford hit straight back after they won successive penalties in the Saints half. Burgess and Lafai kept the ball alive and fed the ball to the other flank for Croft to feed Watkins for his second. Sneyd added the two. 38-6.
Brodie Croft was the next to go over after Lafai made a break down field, beating off numerous Saints defenders to then feed the Salford number six who beat off the challenge of Ben Davies to go over. Sneyd converted from right in front. 44-6.
There was time for a late Saints consolation as Alex Walmsley reached out to touch down over the top of three Salford defenders, but our afternoon got worse on the hooter as Grace went down un-apposed holding his lower leg and was helped off the field.
It was an afternoon to forget in Salford.
FT: πΉ Salford 44-12 Saints β«π§
An afternoon to forget in Salford.#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 31, 2022
Match Summary
Salford Team: Dean Cross, Ken Sio, Dan Sarginson, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Sitaleki Akauola, Andy Ackers, Jack Ormondroyd, Elijah Taylor, Kallum Watkins, Alex Gerrard.
Interchanges:Β Chris Atkin, Greg Burke, Sam Luckley, Ryan Lannon.
Tries: Akauola (12), Burgess (16, 35), Sarginson (19), Watkins (27, 64), Burke (53).
Conversions: Sneyd (5 from 7)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jonathan Bennison, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Regan Grace, James Roby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell.
Tries: Welsby (58), Walmsley (77)
Conversions: Lussick (1 from 1), Bennison (1 from 1).
HT:Β 26-0
FT:Β 44-12
Attendance: 6041
Platty Photo captured the game
