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Saints defeat Rhinos in tight encounter

Club, First Team, Match

Saints returned to winning ways with a 22-18 victory over Leeds Rhinos on Friday evening!

A long high ball is sent to the Saints side and Tee is there to capture the ball and start the game for the Saints.

A High tackle from Blake Austin, gives the Saints a fresh start from 30 metres out. After some great attack from the boys, Will Hopoate soars over the line putting the first points on the board in the first five minutes of play. Tommy Makinson is just short on the conversion, 4-0.

The Saints are given a penalty for dirty play when the Rhinos try to knock the ball away, the boys opt for the two and Makinson is successful in his conversion adding another 2 points for the mighty Saints, 6-0.

A high spiral is sent towards the Saints end and is fumbled around before being kicked further toward the try line, luckily Jack Welsby was there to secure the ball.

Saints make an error and lose the ball in a tackle resulting in Leeds possession, but further down the line the Saints apply pressure and force a knock on gaining the ball back.

The great defence from Saints is rewarded when Leeds passes a flailing ball and young George Delaney pounces on it, but soon the ball is back in Leeds territory with David Fusitu’a on the line pouncing forward to get a try, but the mighty Saints banded together to stop the try.

Despite the good defence from Saints an extremely wide ball is slung towards the left side and then pushed forward into the hands of Rhyse Martin which sent him over the line, he successfully converted his own try, 6-6.

A knock on from Leeds gives Saints possession but they can’t get past the defence. Saints defend excellently keeping the Rhinos back in their own 10 metres when Leeds have yet another knock on. But the effort is short lived as the Saints make an error and give possession back to Leeds.

Leeds are in possession and use it to their best ability with Sam Walters breaking through a gap and scoring another try for the rhinos, Martin adds the extra 2, 6-12.

The Rhinos amble down the field and try to repeat the wide pass but fail as it goes spiralling out resulting in a Saints ball.

A penalty is awarded to Saints as Tee Ritson is taken out. Dan Norman is held up just over the line, but with just five seconds of the first half to go the boys pick up the pace, send the ball out wide to Tee Ritson who goes soaring over the line scoring just before half time. Makinson adds the extra two for the Saints making the score at half time, 12-12.

One minute in from half time it looks like the Rhinos take the lead with a try but the the video ref is called upon and makes the decision of no try, keeping the score at 12-12.

Fantastic attack from Saints sees them barge their way up field, Hopoate gets stuck in a tackle but finds Jack Welsby and offloads, Welsby finds a gap in the defence and pushes his way over the line with two men on his back, Makinson is just shy of the sticks and misses, 16-12.

A high kick from Dodd disrupts Leeds and they fumble the ball but manage to secure it, the boys are right there to make sure no yards are made.

After a rough attack from Leeds and a high kick, Hopoate collects the ball but unfortunately gets held up on his own try line resulting in a goal line drop out, the Rhinos keep trying to make their way through the Saints defence, but it is just too strong. Blake Austin goes for a dive over the line and is held up.

After a Saints error the rhinos get back possession of the ball, despite the Saints’ defence the ball is passed to Nene Macdonald who goes over the line buried under Saints players, Martin adds the two, 16-18.

From the get go Saints are rearing to head to the try line, a pass from Roby to Lomax who sends a quick short ball to Jack Welsby who races past the whole of Leeds’ defence and bags himself his second try of the game, Lewis Dodd steps up to take the conversion and is successful as the ball bounces off of the right post going soaring over the sticks, 22-18.

Leeds are running up the field and deliver a short kick but Welsby blocks the kick and heads out towards the line.

The clock ticks down until Saints are announced the winners of the night.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Will Hopoate, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Matty Lees, James Roby, George Delaney, Sam Royle, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Moses Mbye, Dan Norman, Lewis Baxter, Ben Davies.

18th Man: Wes Bruines.

Tries: Will Hopoate (3), Tee Ritson (40), Jack Welsby (44, 66)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (1 from 3), Lewis Dodd (1 from 1)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (1 from 1)

Leeds Rhinos Team: Richie Myler, David Fusitu’a, Rhyse Martin, Nene Macdonald, Ash Handley, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Walters, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cameron Smith.

Interchanges: Corey Johnson, Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, Justin Sangare.

18th Man: Luis Roberts.

Tries: Rhyse Martin (23), Sam Walters (28), Nene Macdonald (64)

Conversions: Rhyse Martin (3 from 3)

HT: 12-12

FT: 22-18

Attendance: 12,108

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