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Saints claim record four in a row with Rhinos victory!

Club, First Team, Match

St.Helens R.F.C. are the Betfred Super League champions for a fourth year in a row, after beating Leeds Rhinos 24-12 at Old Trafford on Saturday evening!

We are the first Club in Super League history to achieve that success.

Saints came out of the traps flying and took a third minute lead in the Grand Final. We were awarded a penalty after former Saint James Bentley was penalised for a high shot on Mark Percival. Off the back of that, Jonny Lomax darted through a gap and put Matty Lees in to score to the left of the sticks. Tommy Makinson converted, 6-0.

A second try came 15 minutes later. After a penalty allowed Saints to kick the ball downfield, we worked it left and Jack Welsby’s kick was grounded by Jon Bennison to score in the corner. After a video referee review the try was awarded. Makinson converted from the left touchline, 12-0.

With just over ten minutes to go until the break, Makinson had the chance to increase our lead with a penalty just to the right of the sticks. His kick went wide to the left though, so Saints’ lead only remained a two-score one at 12-0.

The visitors responded in the final minute of the first half. After making a rare break into Saints territory they worked the ball left and Rhyse Martin just about got it away before going into touch, the ball found its way inside to Kruise Leeming who span over from close range to score. The try was awarded after a video referee review. Martin took the final kick of the half and converted to make it 12-6 at the break, meaning despite all of Saints’ dominance, it was only a one-score game.

Just as they had done in the first half, Saints dominated the opening stages of the second and got their reward. After earning a ‘six again’ on the Leeds line and using a few tackles Saints laid the ball off for former Rhino Konrad Hurrell to powerfully run onto the ball and he stretched over to score, the try being awarded after a trip to the video referee. Makinson added the two, 18-6.

A fourth Saints score followed. After keeping the Rhinos out whilst being camped on their own line for several minutes, Saints moved up the other end. After another ‘six again’ call, on the last Β Welsby put a fine grubber kick through and Percival won the race to the loose ball to touch it down in exactly the same fashion as he did for our first of the four Grand Final’s back in 2019. The decision went upstairs but once again it was awarded. Makinson converted the try from under the sticks, 24-6 Saints led.

Leeds went over with just under 15 minutes to go as they threw the ball about and it ended up in Martin’s arms, he then crashed over from close range but some great Saints defence somehow held the Rhino up short, 24-6 Saints still led. Leeds continued to pile on the pressure as Percival was forced to concede a goal-line dropout to prevent a second Leeds try.

The Rhinos did grab their second try with just under ten minutes to go. A move down their right edge saw Martin find Tom Briscoe on the wing, he then passed back to Martin on his inside to dive over. Martin converted his own try, 24-12.

As the clock ran down, Saints went for a one-pointer as Harry Sunderland Winner Lomax tried his luck from 20 metres out, but his effort bounded out off the post and out of play. That was to be the final action of the game, as Saints were once again crowned champions – for the fourth time in a row – after beating Leeds Rhinos 24-12 at Old Trafford in Kristian Woolf’s final game in charge!

Match Summary

Saints Team:Β Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Agnatius Paasi, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges:Β Sione Mata’utia, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield.

Tries:Β Matty Lees (3), Jon Bennison (18), Konrad Hurrell (43), Mark Percival (58)

Conversions:Β Tommy Makinson (4 from 4)

Penalties:Β Tommy Makinson (0 from 1)

Leeds Rhinos Team:Β Richie Myler, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Liam Sutcliffe, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Cameron Smith, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Matt Prior, Rhyse Martin, James Bentley, Zane Tetevano.

Interchanges:Β Bodene Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters, James Donaldson.

Tries:Β Kruise Leeming (40), Rhyse Martin (71)

Conversions:Β Rhyse Martin (2 from 2)

HT: 12-6

FT:Β 24-12

Attendance:Β 60,783

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