The Scholarship season got underway for our Young Saints, as they took on Wigan Warriors in their first game of the year!
It was a tough start for the Saints, as they were tasked with defending multiple early sets on their own line. The Saints stood strong, keeping the Warriors at bay in the first 10 minutes.
All their early defensive work would be rewarded, as the Saints struck first 15 minutes into the game. After working their way up the field to the Wigan line, Ryan Davidson spotted a gap and charged to the line from dummy-half, diving over to score the first try of the game. Alfie Maden was successful with the conversion from an awkward angle to put the Saints ahead, 0-6!
With 30 minutes gone on the clock, the Saints would extend their lead further. The young Saints continued to battle their way up field, setting up for another attack at the Warriors line. On the last tackle, the Saints attacked the right with a lovely kick to the corner, finding Noah Carter in plenty of space to collect the ball and score! Maden’s conversion went to the right of the posts, 0-10 the Saints led.
But it would be the Warriors who grabbed the last points of the half, right on the stroke of half-time. A Wigan kick to the in-goal was spilled, bouncing around before James Parr collected the loose ball to score in the right corner. Zak Bielecki saw his conversion go wide, seeing the Saints enter the break leading, 4-10.
The second half began the same as the first, with the Saints defending their own-line for the first 15 minutes, however this time the pressure would break the Saints line. A kick towards the sticks was grounded just before going dead by Shea O’Connor. Bielecki converted to level the scores, 10-10.
The Saints would again be asked to defend, off the back of some harsh penalty’s the Warriors continued to get easy field position in the Saints 20 metre area. Attacking a tired middle of the field, a scoot from the Warriors saw Joe Hollins cross over to put the Warriors ahead for the first time with 63 minutes gone. Bielecki would convert from in front, 16-10.
The Saints would get one last attack at the Warriors line, going close on two occasions, but it wouldn’t be close enough as Wigan took the win in a physical, tiring encounter down at Robin Park, winning 16-10. A great effort from all our Scholars, who take on Warrington on the 3rd of April in their next game!
Wigan Warriors Team: 1. Connor Oxbury, 2. James Parr, 3. Josh Tyrer, 4. Zak Bielecki, 5. James Gleeson, 6. George Marsden, 7. Evan Buckley, 8. Shea O’Connor, 9. Joe Hollins, 10. Zak Brand, 11. Bailey Jones, 12. George Wood, 13. Noah Forster.
Bench: 14. Joe McGann, 15. Jacob Logan, 16. Seth Joyce, 17. Lucas Fetherston, 18. Matthew Halton, 19. Will Dootson, 20. Jack Myers.
Tries: James Parr, Shea O’Connor, Joe Hollins.
Goals: Zak Bielecki (2 from 3).
St Helens Team: 1. Jack Campbell, 5. Ollie Roby, 3. Jacob Taylor, 4. Luke Brighouse, 2. Noah Carter, 7. Tyler McGann, 6. Alfie Maden, 10. Leon Johnson, 23. Ryan Davidson, 8. Finley Beale, 11. Oscar Knox, 12. Nathan Percival, 13. Christopher Matagi.
Bench: 14. Finley Haigh, 15. Charlie Jeffrey-Stott, 16. Toby Bottell, 17. Ewan Gilford, 20. Liam Nixon, 24. Cooper Jones.
Tries: Ryan Davidson, Noah Carter.
Goals: Alfie Maden (1 from 2).
HT: 4-10 / FT: 16-10
