Salford left it late to get the two points at the Salford Community Stadium this afternoon, as Saints were beaten 20-18...
Saints took the lead six minutes in. With the visitors inside the Salford ten on the last tackle following an error from Chris Hankinson, Jack Welsby put in a low kick on the last tackle and James Bell won the race to the loose ball to score under the sticks. Mark Percival converted, 0-6 Saints led.
James Bell opens the scoring for @Saints1890 🔔#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/yxKyvmLHR1
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 23, 2024
Salford tried to threaten as Marc Sneyd tried an early kick which Welsby collected before being forced to concede a dropout.
The hosts did grab their first points of the afternoon soon after though. Following a penalty, the Red Devils went down the short side and Deon Cross was able to break down the left wing before scoring in the corner. Sneyd converted, 6-6 it was tied.
A few minutes later, the hosts had the chance to take the lead. A Sneyd high kick was claimed by Welsby but the referee ruled that a Salford man had been taken out off the ball. They opted for two points but Sneyd’s kick went wayward and landed in the arms of a Salford man, which resulted in a Saints penalty.
Cross had his second try of the afternoon eight minutes before the break. After a spell of pressure on our line, Sneyd chipped it to the left corner on the last tackle and Cross was able to catch and plant the ball down with ease. Sneyd missed the conversion, 10-6.
Saints tried to threaten in the final 90 seconds of the half. On the last tackle Saints opted to run it, the ball was moved right and Konrad Hurrell broke down the right wing, he found Jon Bennison but he was forced into touch as he tried to find a Saints man on his inside.
⏸ The Saints are down by four points at the break in Salford.
Live Match Centre
➡ https://t.co/RzBF8Jejm6#COYS pic.twitter.com/Ne2gsnpWrs— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 23, 2024
Saints grabbed the first points of the second half 13 minutes in. The Red V moved forward and on the last tackle, Lewis Dodd found Curtis Sironen who broke through a gap and dove over the line. Percival nailed the conversion to put Saints back in the lead, 10-12.
Sironen slicing through for @Saints1890 👋
The visitors are back in front 👊#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/l4qvDaWqvx
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 23, 2024
It didn’t take long for the Red Devils to go back ahead. On the last tackle, Sneyd kicked high towards their right edge, a contest in the ball resulted in Watkins picking up the loose ball and he dove over in the corner to score. Sneyd was unable to convert, 14-12.
Saints had the chance to level with 17 minutes to go. A high shot on Sione Mata’utia saw Saints awarded a penalty and they opted for two. Percival’s kick from 38 metres to the right of the sticks went through, 14-14 it was tied.
The video referee was called upon with just under 12 minutes to go. Welsby tried an offload which went to ground, Sironen picked it up and broke through a gap before finding Percival in support who was able to stumble over from close range. He was unable to convert, 14-18.
Percival may have won it for @Saints1890 👀#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/oEWJ1wXvJS
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 23, 2024
The game was tied again with six minutes to go. Salford moved it down their right edge, Ethan Ryan breaking down the wing before finding Chris Hankinson in support on his inside who crossed to the right of the sticks. Sneyd converted, 20-18 Salford led.
Saints tried to grab a response but it wasn’t to be, as Saints were beaten 20-18 by the Salford Red Devils at the Salford Community Stadium.
⏹ Salford edge the Saints by two points to get the win at the Salford Community Stadium.#COYS pic.twitter.com/Ch52hW0neC
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 23, 2024
Match Summary
Salford Red Devils Team: Chris Hankinson, Ethan Ryan, Nene Macdonald, Loghan Lewis, Deon Cross, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Mellor, Shane Wright, Sam Stone, Kallum Watkins, Oliver Partington.
Interchanges: King Vuniyayawa, Joe Shorrocks, Gil Dudson, Nathan Connell.
18th Man: Tim Lafai.
Tries: Deon Cross (19, 32), Kallum Watkins (58), Chris Hankinson (74)
Conversions: Marc Sneyd (2 from 4)
Penalties: Marc Sneyd (0 from 1)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jon Bennison, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Waqa Blake, Moses Mbye, Lewis Dodd, George Delaney, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Sione Mata’utia, James Bell.
Interchanges: Agnatius Paasi, Ben Davies, Sam Royle, Noah Stephens.
18th Man: Jonny Vaughan.
Tries: James Bell (6), Curtis Sironen (53), Mark Percival (69)
Conversions: Mark Percival (2 from 3)
Penalties: Mark Percival (1 from 1)
HT: 10-6
FT: 20-18
Attendance: 5,724