A young Saints side were beaten 34-18 by Wakefield at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Monday afternoon, however results elsewhere mean that Saints have won the League Leaders' Shield!
π΄βͺ ππΌππππ πππΌπ ππππ! π΄βͺ
Give a warm welcome to your 4οΈ Saints debutants who will face @WTrinityRL this afternoon… π
βοΈ Keane Gilford
βοΈ Ben Lane
βοΈ Ellis Archer
βοΈ Rio Corkill#COYS— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
Saints had four debutants in a heavily rotated side from Friday night’s derby at Wigan. Keane Gilford, Ben Lane, Ellis Archer and Rio Corkill all made their first team debuts for the Red Vee at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Wakefield took the lead in the ninth minute. The visitors were awarded a six again on the Saints line and off the back of it Corey Hall was put through a gap to score. Max Jowitt missed the conversion, 4-0.
The young Saints had a good spell on the Wakefield line shortly after and the pressure paid off. On the back of a Wakefield knock on, Daniel Moss put Ben Davies through a gap to level the score. Tommy Makinson converted, 6-4.
Keep pushing, Saints! πͺ#COYS pic.twitter.com/0S7atHOOGv
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
The visitors re-took the lead shortly after. Saints knocked the ball on in their own ten and a couple of tackles into the restart Trinity worked the ball to their left edge and Lewis Murphy finished spectacularly in the corner. Jowitt missed the conversion, 8-6 the visitors led.
Another try followed. An error from Saints in their own half gave the visitors field position and on the last tackle a kick through wasn’t dealt with and Murphy reacted quickest to score his second. Jowitt converted, 14-6.
The impressive Murphy then completed a first half hat-trick on the half hour mark. Trinity worked the ball out left again and Murphy fumbled the ball, but re-gathered it before finishing spectacularly in the corner. Jowitt was unable to convert, 18-6.
A fifth Trinity try quickly followed. A break down their right wing ended with Kyle Evans finding the supporting Jowitt who just about beat Davies to the line. Former Saint, Lee Gaskell took over kicking duties and converted the try, 24-6 at the break.
HT: π΄βͺοΈ Saints 6-24 Wakefield β«οΈπ΅
Our young Saints trail at the break.#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
Saints started the second half on the front foot. Lewis Baxter went close to his first ever try for the first team but dropped the ball with the try-line just metres away.
Trinity had their sixth try shortly after though. The visitors broke down the left wing with Murphy and he passed on his inside to find Gaskell who strolled over under the sticks. Gaskell converted his own try, 30-6 we trailed.
Saints replied this time. A penalty took the hosts into Wakefield territory and off the back of it Moss once again found Davies with a flat pass and he crashed over from close range for his second of the afternoon. Makinson converted, 30-12 we trailed.
Davies at the Double! βοΈ#COYS pic.twitter.com/Z4LF5QxDnw
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
Our third try came out minutes from the end, debutant Rio Corkill made a break down the heart of the Wakefield defence and he found Jon Bennison on his outside who strolled under the sticks. Makinson converted, 30-18.
It was the visitors who grabbed the final score of the game though. A move from right to left ended with Murphy going over again for his fourth try of the afternoon. Gaskell missed the kick, 34-18.
Gaskell was sent to the sin bin in the final minute for trying to slow down the play the ball as Saints camped on the Wakefield line, but it was too late as spirited young Saints were beaten 34-18.
However, with Wigan losing to Hull KR, we were confirmed as League Leaders’ Shield winners which we will lift during our home game with Toulouse Olympique on Saturday afternoon. Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets.
FT: π΄βͺοΈ Saints 18-34 Wakefield β«οΈπ΅
A gutsy display from our young Saints who fall short on the day.#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
ππππ ππππππ πππππππ!π
With other @SuperLeague results going our way, top spot has been confirmed! β
The trophy will be presented at our last regular season home game against Toulouse on Saturday 3 September, 3pm kick off.#COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 29, 2022
Match Summary
Saints Team:Β Jon Bennison, Keane Gilford, Tommy Makinson, Ben Davies, Ben Lane, Daniel Moss, Ellis Archer, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Joey Lusick, Dan Norman, Sam Royle, James Bell, Jake Wingfield.
Interchanges:Β Lewis Baxter, Taylor Pemberton, George Delaney, Rio-Osayomwanbo Corkill.
Tries:Β Ben Davies (14, 55), Jon Bennison (72)
Conversions:Β Tommy Makinson (3 from 3)
Wakefield Trinity Team:Β Max Jowitt, Kyle Evans, Jack Croft, Lee Gaskell, Lewis Murphy, Bradley Walker, Jacob Miller, Eddie Battye, Harry Bowes, Yusuf Aydin, Matty Ashurst, Corey Hall, Jordan Crowther.
Interchanges:Β Liam Kay, Isaac Shaw, Robert Butler, Sadiq Adebiyi.
Tries:Β Corey Hall (8), Lewis Murphy (18, 24, 30, 75), Max Jowitt (32), Lee Gaskell (51)
Conversions:Β Max Jowitt (1 from 4), Lee Gaskell (2 from 3)
Sin Bin: Lee Gaskell (79)
HT:Β 6-24
FT:Β 18-34
Attendance:Β 8,222
