Saints will travel to Perpignan next week, after a 16-8 victory over Warrington this afternoon at the Totally Wicked Stadium!
😤 Here's how your Saints line-up for our Elimination Play-Off against @WarringtonRLFC!
Follow James Roby and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's final home game with our Live Match Centre 👇#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 30, 2023
It was Saints who had the first opening seven minutes in. A flowing move from well within the Saints half saw the ball shifted right, the final pass from Joe Batchelor set Tommy Makinson away down the wing, he kicked ahead and chased along with Mark Percival, but a covering Warrington defender won the race for the loose ball, hitting it behind for a goal-line dropout.
Saints had another big chance two minutes later. James Bell put Morgan Knowles through a gap and he raced away before Matty Ashton tackled him. The following play, Saints went to their right edge down the short-side, Bell tried to find Percival, but the ball was fumbled over the Warrington line.
With 15 minutes of the first 40 to go, Saints did grab a well deserved lead. Bell found Sironen who broke through a gap, he found Lewis Dodd supporting on his inside to stroll over next to the sticks. Percival converted, 6-0 Saints led.
The Saints are on the board 😇
Lewis Dodd opens the scoring after 25 minutes 👊#SuperLeague #SLStHWar pic.twitter.com/bn14eibUkf
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 30, 2023
Just before the break, Saints were awarded a penalty 20 metres from the Warrington line, just to the left of the sticks, following a tip-tackle on Jack Welsby as he looked to break through a gap. Saints opted for two, Percival slotted it over, 8-0.
Warrington had a chance to apply some pressure to the Saints line with a penalty in the final minute of the half, but they fumbled the ball, as Saints led by eight points at the break.
⏸ The Saints are eight points to the good against Warrington in the Elimination Play-Off.#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 30, 2023
Three minutes into the second half, Warrington replied. Connor Wrench broke free down the right edge, he had support but chose to go on his own and despite Welsby’s best efforts, he stumbled over the line to score in the corner. Stefan Ratchford converted, 8-6 Saints led.
From the kick off, Jordy Crowther was caught high and, after initially giving nothing, Alex Walmsley was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for an apparent high shot and the Wolves were awarded a penalty.
The visitors then had the chance to level the scores as Joe Philbin was caught high directly in front of the sticks. Ratchford added the two points, 8-8 it was tied.
Saints responded well to the setbacks. After earning a repeat set on the Warrington line following a knock on. Saints used up a few tackles before eventually going right, the ball went through the hands and Welsby was able to offload to Percival, he found Makinson on the wing who cut back inside to dive over in the corner. Percival converted, 14-8.
Saints hit straight back and they lead again 👏#C4League | #SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/gxNa0byCbm
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) September 30, 2023
From the kick off, Joe Bullock went high on Matty Lees and was sent to the sin bin. With just under nine minutes left, Saints had a penalty twelve metres from the Warrington line, to the left of the sticks and opted to kick for two. Percival added the two to give Saints a two-score lead, 16-8.
Both sides had chances to add to the score-line but to no avail, as Saints progressed to face Catalans Dragons in next weekend’s Semi-Final with a 16-8 victory at a wet Totally Wicked Stadium!
👊 The Saints are Semi-Finals bound after a fourth win over Warrington Wolves this year, in what was James Roby and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's final home game. ❤#COYS | #HistoryInTheMaking
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 30, 2023
Match Summary
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Sione Mata’utia, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Alex Walmsley, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, James Bell, Moses Mbye.
18th Man: Ben Davies.
Tries: Lewis Dodd (25), Tommy Makinson (58)
Conversions: Mark Percival (2 from 2)
Penalties: Mark Percival (2 from 2)
Warrington Wolves Team: Matt Dufty, Matty Russell, Connor Wrench, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, James Harrison, Danny Walker, Sam Kasiano, Matty Nicholson, Ben Currie, Jordan Crowther.
Interchanges: Peter Mata’utia, Daryl Clark, Joe Philbin, Joe Bullock.
18th Man: Gil Dudson.
Tries: Connor Wrench (43)
Conversions: Stefan Ratchford (1 from 1)
Penalties: Stefan Ratchford (1 from 1)
HT: 8-0
FT: 16-8
Attendance: 13,801
