Saints are into the last eight of the Betfred Challenge Cup, after beating Leeds Rhinos 6-20 at AMT Headingley Stadium!
Saints had the first big chance three minutes in. A penalty for offside pushed the Red V deep into Leeds territory. Saints opted to go short as Daryl Clark found Alex Walmsley who tried to crash over, but the ball came loose relieving the pressure on Leeds’ line.
Saints went for two after earning a penalty ten minutes in, Captain Jonny Lomax struck it through the posts from wide left, 0-2 we led. Five minutes later, Saints had a second shot at goal after Matty Lees was tipped in a tackle, Lomax converted again, 0-4.
Against the run of play, Leeds struck back in the 26th minute. With Saints camped on the Rhinos line, Lomax tried to feed the ball down our left edge but it was intercepted by Harry Newman who raced the length to level the scores. Martin converted, 6-4 Leeds led.
Just before the break Lomax had another shot at goal, as the Rhinos conceded another penalty deep inside their own half. From the restart, Saints again moved downfield, Daryl Clark made a dash from dummy half and burrowed his way over from close range with the final action of the first half. Lomax added the extras, 6-10 Saints led at the break.
⏸ The Saints edge the lead in the Sixth Round of the Challenge Cup after a late Daryl Clark try.
Live Match Centre
➡ https://t.co/YgJN6HVvmf#COYS pic.twitter.com/VPAxo0XLI8— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 22, 2024
The first big opening came 15 minutes into the second forty. Brodie Croft tried an early kick to Leeds’ left with the ball looking destined for Ash Handley’s arms, a great recovery by Jon Bennison saw him come away with the ball, as Saints survived.
Both sides then got reduced to twelve men. Tom Holroyd took offence to a shot from Welsby, Clark reacted and both sides got involved in a scuffle on the touchline. As a result, Saints got a penalty and both Holroyd and Clark would miss the next ten minutes.
Saints’ lead was then extended. Saints went right as Mbye found Joe Batchelor, whose blocked kicked found it way back to Mbye, who found Konrad Hurrell and he found Bennison to dive over in the corner. Lomax nailed the conversion from the right touchline, 6-16 Saints led.
With eleven minutes to go, Saints grabbed their third try. The visitors kept the ball alive on the last, Bell tried a kick which ricocheted into Alex Walmsley’s hands, and the prop wasn’t going to be stopped from close range. Lomax missed the kick, 6-20.
That was the final action of the game, as Saints reached the last eight of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a dominant 6-20 victory over Leeds Rhinos!
🎩 The Saints are in the hat for @TheChallengeCup quarter-finals with a win over Leeds at Headingley!
Our second win at the Rhinos' home in seven days!#COYS pic.twitter.com/p1ylPXlUL1
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 22, 2024
Match Summary
Leeds Rhinos Team: Lachlan Miller, Paul Momirovski, Harry Newman, Rhyse Martin, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Justin Sangare, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cameron Smith.
Interchanges: Tom Holroyd, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Luis Roberts.
18th Man: Mikael Goudemand.
Tries: Harry Newman (26)
Conversions: Rhyse Martin (1 from 1)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jon Bennison, Konrad Hurrell, Sione Mata’utia, Waqa Blake, Jonny Lomax, Moses Mbye, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joe Batchelor, James Bell, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.
18th Man: Ben Davies.
Tries: Daryl Clark (40), Jon Bennison (60), Alex Walmsley (69)
Conversions: Jonny Lomax (2 from 3)
Penalties: Jonny Lomax (2 from 3)
HT: 6-10
FT: 6-20
Attendance:
