Our St.Helens Under 18’s Academy team are 80 minutes away from booking their spot in the Academy Grand Final when they take on Hull FC this Sunday!
After confirming that the Saints would finish top of the 2023 Academy table, Derek Traynor’s young side have earned a home Semi-Final against fourth placed Hull FC.
The fixture details are now confirmed:
- WHEN: Sunday, 17th September at 1pm
- WHERE: Totally Wicked Stadium, WA9 3AL
- HOW: 2023 Members get Academy matches held at the Totally Wicked Stadium as part of their Membership, prices for non-Members are; Adults – £5, Concessions – £3, Under 16’s – £2
Further Match Entry Information
Supporters wishing to attend the Saints’ Academy Semi-Final against Hull FC can enter the stadium by heading to the South Stand/South East section of the stadium and using Turnstiles 10-14 which will be open from 12pm (noon).
A HOME ACADEMY GRAND FINAL IS UP FOR GRABS
The Red V ensured their spot at the top with a convincing second half performance away at Wakefield Trinity last Thursday night, their eleventh win of the twelve round regular season. The only loss registered by our Under 18’s Saints came in Round 11 against Wigan Warriors who finished the season in second spot and means they will host third-placed Warrington Wolves this weekend too.
The winning sides of the two Semi-Finals will meet in the Academy Grand Final over the weekend of the 23rd/24th of September, with the game to be played at the home of the qualifying semi-finalist that finished highest in the league table in the regular season.
THE STORY SO FAR FOR OUR ACADEMY IN 2023…
The season began in style back in March for Traynor’s charges at Ruskin Drive with a dominant victory over London Broncos 80-0 and saw the Saints go top of the table from the very first round. The first away day of the campaign was an early morning game at Laund Hill in Huddersfield, and the hosts were kept try-less with only a penalty the points they would register in a 2-38 win for the Red V.
An Saturday Easter fixture saw Saints go to Robin Park Arena to face Wigan Warriors at the start of April. As always both the Saints and the Warriors have been two sides tipped to do well, with the local bragging rights on the line. In an enthralling match St.Helens saw off the Warriors 18-46 on their own turf to ensure their spot as the table toppers.
The Saints followed the derby win with a convincing performance over Warrington Wolves at home 34-18, and then our Academy headed up to Tyneside for a demolition job, gaining a 4-110 victory over Newcastle Thunder to start May.
A home and away fixture against the Hull sides at the end of May and going into June, with the Red V cruising past the Robins at home first 52-12, before going to the University of Hull to down the Black & Whites 22-42.
Closing out June, the Saints visited The Jungle in Castleford and defeated the Tigers by 58-24. During July two more West Yorkshire sides suffered losses at the hands of the Saints, firstly Bradford 6-64 at Odsal and then Leeds at the Totally Wicked Stadium by 42-24.
Wigan Warriors then came to the home of St.Helens looking for a bit of revenge following the Easter loss, and with some key injuries to our spine they managed to hand the Saints their first loss of the year in the eleventh round.
With St.Helens and Wigan tied on league points, but our Under 18’s with a better points difference, Traynor’s players needed a win over Wakefield in the final match of the regular season to confirm they would finish top of the table. With just a two-point edge at the break, the Saints put in a strong second half to keep the Trin scoreless in the second half, post 22 more points and win 10-34.
WATCH EVERY ACADEMY GAME ON DEMAND ON SAINTS TV
All twelve matches from the 2023 Academy regular season are available to watch on Saints TV, with both full match replays and match highlights! The full eighty minutes of match action for all our Saints teams are exclusively available to Saints TV subscribers!
Watch every single one of our First Team, Women, and Scholarship matches too on Saints TV!
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