Saints were beaten 6-8 by Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday evening...
Castleford had the better of the opening ten minutes at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Saints were forced to concede a goal-line dropout from Jacob Miller’s kick into the corner, with Castleford also held up a metre short of the Saints line.
Saints’ best opening early on came 14 minutes in. George Delaney ran a great line to break through the Castleford defence before being halted. On the last tackle Jack Welsby’s kick was too strong and gifted the visitors a seven-tackle set.
23 minutes in, following a short stoppage as Matty Lees received some treatment, Jonny Lomax tried a kick into the corner which ended up bouncing into touch. Saints did get the ball back though, as Tee Ritson’s chase forced the visitors to put the ball out.
Saints took the lead just before the break. The hosts kept the ball alive and moved it back from left to right, Sam Royle with the show and go before breaking through a gap and stretching over to score down the right edge. Mark Percival was unable to convert the try, 4-0 Saints led at the break after a tight first 40 minutes.
⏸ It’s a tight and close one against the Tigers.
Defences on top.
Live Match Centre
➡ https://t.co/IeUWZdK8hE#COYS pic.twitter.com/iTAqwjUs95— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 5, 2024
Ten minutes into the second half, we had the first opportunity at points. A ball steal on Royle gave the Red V a penalty, we opted for two points and Percival converted, 6-0 Saints led.
Castleford grabbed their first points 15 minutes into the second half. After putting pressure on Saints’ line following an error, the Tigers shifted it left and Miller found Innes Senior who scored in the corner. Rowan Milnes missed the kick, 6-4 Saints led.
Jake Burns came onto the field shortly after the try to make his Saints debut, becoming the #1288 man to represent the Red V. A few minutes later Jonny Vaughan became #1289, as he replaced Royle.
Saints tried to pull of a great move down their left edge with 15 minutes to go. The Red V moved it through the hands down their short-side, Ritson made a small break before finding Percival on his inside, he tried to find Lewis Dodd but the ball went to ground and Castleford survived.
Soon after, Muizz Mustapha was caught high by Curtis Sironen, the visitors opted for two points and Milnes converted, tying the game at 6-6. Minutes later the visitors had another penalty, Welsby dropped a high kick and Saints got caught offside recovering it. Milnes once again converting, 6-8 to the Tigers.
Saints tried to fightback but it wasn’t to be, as Saints suffered a 6-8 defeat against Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
⏹ The Saints lose out by two points to the Tigers.#COYS pic.twitter.com/ifOVeh1oP8
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) July 5, 2024
Match Summary
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tee Ritson, Mark Percival, Ben Davies, Waqa Blake, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Matty Lees, Moses Mbye, George Delaney, Curtis Sironen, Sam Royle, James Bell.
Interchanges: Agnatius Paasi, Jake Burns, Noah Stephens, Jonny Vaughan.
18th Man: Jon Bennison.
Tries: Sam Royle (38)
Conversions: Mark Percival (0 from 1)
Penalties: Mark Percival (1 from 1)
Castleford Tigers Team: Tex Hoy, Jason Qareqare, Corey Hall, Alex Mellor, Innes Senior, Rowan Milnes, Jacob Miller, George Griffin, Liam Horne, Muizz Mustapha, George Lawler, Elie El-Zakhem, Joe Westerman.
Interchanges: Liam Watts, Cain Robb, George Hill, Matty English.
18th Man: Luis Johnson.
Tries: Innes Senior (55)
Conversions: Rowan Milnes (0 from 1)
Penalties: Rowan Milnes (2 from 2)
HT: 4-0
FT: 6-8
Attendance: 9,808
