Saints' Betfred Super League 2023 campaign got off to a winning start, after a 6-24 victory over Castleford at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle!
📰 Your Saints team news for our @SuperLeague opener at @CTRLFC
☝ @tee_ritson makes his official competitive debut for the Red-V this afternoon, whilst Bennison, Lussick and Bell come into the starting 13!
Follow the game with our Match Centre ⬇#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 26, 2023
Cas had a great chance to open the scoring in the first minute, a move from right to left saw Jake Mamo break down the Tigers left wing, he passed to the supporting Niall Evalds on his inside but he fumbled the ball with just the line in front of him, 0-0. Another chance quickly followed, Cas kicked a 40/20 so received a set in great field position. The visitors defence stood firm though, as they held the Tigers out a metre short of their line.
The video referee was then called into action. Saints threw the ball out the back and Jack Welsby found Konrad Hurrell, who then found Tee Ritson, who dove for the corner. However, his knee was judged to have gone into touch before grounding the ball, so the try wasn’t awarded and it remained scoreless.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 24th minute. A break down the left edge by Mark Percival put the Red V on the front foot, off the back of it Jonny Lomax found Welsby and he stretched out to score under the sticks. Percival converted, 0-6 the visitors led.
The deadlock is broken! 💪@Saints1890 show their class as Welsby puts them into the lead at The Jungle. #C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/bS88Nrywgh
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) February 26, 2023
Another quick break followed. From the restart, James Bell broke through the Tigers defence and moved downfield, he then kicked ahead towards Ritson on the right wing but he was just about unable to keep the ball in with open field ahead of him, 0-6.
Despite both teams having plenty of chances, it was just a Welsby try that separated the two sides at the break in West Yorkshire, 0-6 the Red V led.
⏸️ The Saints edge the lead in our season opener at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Follow the second half with our Match Centre 👇#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 26, 2023
It took just six second half minutes for the games second try. Hurrell threw an offload in midfield which found Lomax, he then threw a dummy before making a great break down the right edge, he then found the supporting Ritson who flew over for his first Saints try. Percival converted, 0-12.
That is OUTSTANDING! 😤
Brilliant build up play from Lomax sees Ritson score @Saints1890's second try of the afternoon. #C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/z8Heyw4zgf
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) February 26, 2023
Castleford were then awarded a penalty try. A move from right to left resulted in Jack Broadbent heading towards the corner. Welsby stopped the Cas player but it was judged to be high therefore the hosts were awarded four points with a conversion in front of the sticks which Gareth Widdop converted, 6-12.
After spending repeated sets on the Tigers line, Saints once again made it a two-score game with 16 minutes to go. Welsby kicked through on the last ten from the Cas line and Alex Walmsley won the race to the loose ball to scored to the right of the sticks. Percival converted, 6-18.
Seven minutes later, Walmsley had his second! The big prop broke through multiple tacklers and then fended off another to fall over the try line. Lomax took over kicking duties and converted, 6-24.
You wouldn't want to be on the end of one of these runs. 😤
What a week for @Saints1890 it's been on @Channel4!#C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/W5xOHaFbz8
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) February 26, 2023
Cas thought they had grabbed a second try with five minutes to go. A Saints pass was intercepted in midfield and Bureta Faraimo ran half the length of the field to score in the corner. However, after a video referee review, it showed Faraimo’s arm hit touch before he grounded the ball, 6-24 it remained.
That was to be the final noteworthy action of the game, as Saints kickstarted their Super League defence with a 6-24 victory over Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle!
🙌 The World Club Champs are off and running in @SuperLeague with a win at The Jungle!#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 26, 2023
Match Summary
Castleford Tigers Team: Niall Evalds, Jake Mamo, Jordan Turner, Jack Broadbent, Bureta Faraimo, Gareth Widdop, Jacob Miller, George Griffin, Paul McShane, Albert Vete, Kenny Edwards, Alex Mellor, George Lawler.
Interchanges: Adam Milner, Muizz Mustapha, Cain Robb, Liam Watts.
Tries: Jack Broadbent (51)
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (1 from 1)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tee Ritson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield, Dan Norman, Sam Royle.
Tries: Jack Welsby (24), Tee Ritson (46), Alex Walmsley (64, 71)
Conversions: Mark Percival (3 from 3), Jonny Lomax (1 from 1)
HT: 0-6
FT: 6-24
Attendance: 10,042
