Saints returned to winning ways with a hard fought 20-12 victory over Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium in front of the Channel 4 cameras.
π΄βͺ ππΌππππ πππΌπ ππππ! π΄βͺ
β’οΈ is BACK! Bennison shifts to full back, Welsby is in the halves with the skipper moving to his more familiar hooker position… π
Sironen is fit to start and Dan Hill gets a go on the wing! β#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 7, 2022
Saints knew we had to start well following last week’s defeat and we did just that as Curtis Sironen, starting today despite a bicep injury, took three Tigers defenders with him and powered over following a Jonny Lomax short ball. Makinson converted and we led 6-0 after just four minutes.
Cas looked to hit straight back, but Dan Hill did brilliantly to pounce on Gareth O’Brien’s grubber and save a certain try.
And that hard worked paid off on 16 minutes as a short ball from Jack Welsby allowed Morgan Knowles to swivel in the tackle and get the ball down to the left of the sticks. Makinson made no mistake, 12-0 we led.
Liam Watts was then sent to the bin for a late shot on Jonny Lomax. Makinson had a chance to slot a penalty over, but his kick went wide.
The Tigers pushed to get back in the game, but the Saints defence was on form and kept them at bay.
HT: π΄βͺ Saints 12-0 Tigers π―
So far, so good for Saints!#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 7, 2022
Saints won back-to-back penalties at the start of the second half and Makinson slotted over another two from right in front to extend our lead. 14-0 we led.
Batchelor got on the scoresheet on the 54th minute after a lovely reversed grubber from Lomax found him racing through. It went upstairs and the try was given. Makinson added the two from right in front. 20-0.
It's the @Saints1890 again, as they stretch their lead to 20-0 π€
Lomax with a tidy ball through and after going upstairs to the video ref, the score is given.#C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/ILKud50m8k
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) August 7, 2022
Cas hit back on 64 minutes as successive penalties resulted in Bureta Faraimo powering his way over Welsby and Hill to go over in the corner. Richardson missed the kick. 20-4.
The visitors had the momentum and five minutes later Faraimo grabbed his second as he powered over Hill in the corner. Richardson again missed the conversion attempt. 20-8.
With five minutes to go, Faraimo grabbed his hat-trick in the same corner again as the Tigers worked the ball to the right and the powerful winger went over Davies to get it down. McShane this time took up kicking duties, but his kick was wide. 20-12.
That would be the final score of the game as Saints returned to winning ways.
FT: π΄βͺ Saints 20-12 Tigers π―
Two points in the bag!#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 7, 2022
Match Summary
Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Dan Hill, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield, James Bell.
Tries: Sironen (4), Knowles (16), Batchelor (54)
Conversions: Makinson 3 from 3
Penalties: Makinson 1 from 2
Castleford Team: Greg Eden, Derrell Olpherts, Mahe Fonua, Bureta Faraimo, Gareth O’Brien, Danny Richardson, Liam Watts, Paul Mcshane, George Griffin, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman.
Interchanges: Alex Sutcliffe, Suaia Matagi, Brad Martin, Sosaia Feki.
Tries: Faraimo (64), (68), (77).
Conversions: Richardson 0 from 2, McShane 0 from 1.
HT: 12-0
FT: 20-12.
Attendance: 10144