Our Scholars took the trip to Yorkshire as they looked for their first win of the season.
It would be Castleford who would cross over for the first score of the game. After the Saints came close at the other end through Tyler McGann, the Tigers got the ball back and on the 4th tackle were given a penalty to march them upfield into some attacking field position. Cas played to the left, finding a cut out pass to Franki Jackson-Bedford seeing him dive over into the corner. Sonny Wall kicked the goal from side-line, 6-0 the Tigers led after 10 minutes.
But it wouldn’t take long for the Saints to respond. A knock on from kick off presented the Saints with the perfect opportunity to respond, the Saints attacked the Tigers line, and on last tackle were given another chance with a penalty for a hit off the ball. The Saints calmed their attack down, and played with shape to right to Jack Campbell out the back who found Noah Carter on the wing who beat three men to ground the ball with a great finish in the corner. Campbell just missed with the kick, 6-4.
With 26 gone on the clock the Saints took the lead. After forcing an error in their own half, the Saints worked their way up to halfway. On the 3rd tackle, Chris Matagi charged at the line, breaking the defence before beating three Tigers men on his way to the line before being brought down 10 metres out. The Saints played quick down the short and on the last tackle James Moss ducked his way under the defence to score in the corner. Campbell just missed with the conversion attempt, 6-8.
The Saints almost went in again from kick off. Another break from Matagi, this time from his own half saw him break down to the Tigers 20 metre zone. The Saints played left with Moss breaking the line finding a great flick offload to Campbell, but he was just brought down before getting to the line as the Saints continued to hunt for more points before the break.
A try from Moss following some quick Saints attacking play sends the Scholars into the break ahead! #COYS pic.twitter.com/xSl9hmB4lz
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 17, 2024
It would take just two minutes in the second half for the Saints to extend their lead. A dangerous bomb from Alfie Maden wasn’t dealt with from by the Cas back line, with the Tigers Fullback letting the ball bounce before he was tackled on collection, spilling the ball into the in-goal, which Luke Brighouse dove on to score before the ball bounced dead. Maden took over the kicking duties, converting from just to the right of the posts, 6-14.
51 minutes on the clock and the Saints were in again. Dummy-half Lennon Robson picked the ball up from nine and attacked the retreating Castleford markers, bursting downfield before being brought down 5 from the line. McGann scooped the ball up and from nine and crossed over under the sticks to further the Saints lead. Maden converted from in-front, 6-20.
Straight after the Scholars struck again. From the kick off, the Saints worked their way up to the halfway line, allowing another aerial attack from Maden with his bomb spiralling in the air before being spilled by the Tigers Number One. From the scrum, Jude Morley picked up the ball out the scrum and attacked out the back, before finding Maden who dove over to score to the right. He converted his score from the awkward angle, 6-26 the Saints led as we approached the final quarter.
But Castleford weren’t going to go down without a fight as struck three times in quick concession. After collecting the ball on halfway the Tigers worked up the Saints 20 metre area, and on the last tackle played left to Jackson-Bedford who dove in at the corner for his second. Wall converted, narrowing the score to 12-26. Two minutes later Castleford were in again, this time playing to the right, with Wall finding a looping pass to Sean Coughlan to go away and score in corner. Wall missed the kick, narrowing the Saints lead to ten, 16-26
It would be another score for the Tigers in the next set from kick-off. Castleford attacked down the left from their own half, breaking down the wing, Jackson-Bedford beat Campbell despite his best efforts coming across the back to score left of the posts, Wall converted putting the Tigers behind by four, 22-26.
The Saints however got themselves back in possession of the ball, and replied to the Castleford repeated scores. A penalty in their own half allowed the Saints to enter the Castleford half. Repeated attacks on the line were held by the the Tigers, but on the last, the Saints play left with McGann finding Moss who hit the line at speed before offloading in the tackle to his centre Jacob Taylor to score in the corner. Maden just hooked his kick, putting the Saints ahead by eight with ten minutes remaining, 22-30.
But the Tigers weren’t going away, and would respond shortly after. A penalty for offside from a towering kick towards the Tigers try line saw the Tigers take a quick tap, with Tylor Sharpe charging through the middle to race away and score under the posts. Wall converted, 28-30.
With just two minutes remaining on the clock, the Saints would go in again to wrap the game up for the Scholars. An error from the Tigers allowed the Saints to start on halfway, and work their way up the Castleford line. The Saints played fast to the right exposing the Tigers defence, playing through the hands to Brighouse who crossed over near the corner for his second and to seal the win for the Scholars! Maden just missed with his kick, seeing the final score land at 28-34 to the Saints.
An end to end second half, but our Scholars battle it out to hold out for the win over in Yorkshire!
Well done boys 👊 #COYS pic.twitter.com/0AbimOPI9p
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) April 17, 2024
Up next for the Scholars is Hull KR at the Totally Wicked Stadium, as they’ll look aim to win back to back games before the side enters a short break.
Castleford Tigers Team: 1. Tylor Sharpe, 5. Franki Jackson-Bedford, 2. Jack Pallister, 3. Connor Dale, 4. Sean Coughlan, 6. Zack McGowan, 7. Sonny Wall, 8. Jay Dawson, 9. Layton Whitehead, 10. Jayden Pollitt, 11. Jack O Marr, 12. Billy Wilson, 13. Rhys Firth.
Bench: 14. Cayden Rooney, 15. Jack Egley, 16. William Gardner, 17. Joseph Huskins, 18. Tye Welch, 19. Harrison Simpson.
Tries: Franki Jackson-Bedford (3), Sean Coughlan, Tylor Sharpe.
Goals: Sonny Wall (4 from 5)
Saints Team: 23. Jack Campbell, 2. Ollie Roby, 3. Jacob Taylor, 4. Luke Brighouse, 5. Noah Carter, 6. Tyler McGann, 7. Alfie Maden, 8. Ewan Gilford, 24. Jude Morley, 10. Declan Lyon, 11. Oscar Knox, 12. James Moss, 13. Chris Matagi.
Bench: 14. Alfie Maden, 15. Mason Stott, 16. Leon Johnson, 17. Finley Beale, 18. Isaac Sams, 19. Lennon Robson, 21. Owain Martin
Tries: Luke Brighouse (2), Noah Carter, James Moss, Tyler McGann, Alfie Maden, Jacob Taylor.
Goals: Jack Campbell (0 from 2), Alife Maden (3 from 5).
