Derek Traynor's Academy side travelled to Hull, looking to continue their run of wins...
The Saints got off to a great start, crossing over after just 4 minutes. The Robins sent the ball in the air, spiraling down Louie Roberts slipped as he went to claim the ball, but got up to collect the ball and burst through the line to run away to half way, where he found Cole Marsh in support who ran away from 50 meters out to score under the posts. Whitby converted from in front, 0-6.
It was back-to-back tries for the Saints, crossing over in our next set. A break from Matthew Penketh down the right saw him find Keeley in suppose with an offload. Brought down 15 out, the Saints shift right quick through the hands with Reilly Cosgrove tipping on to Ellis Anderson who grounded in corner. Whitby’s conversion bounced in off the posts, 12-0 the Saints led after 7 minutes.
And it was be another for the Saints shortly after. A penalty for the Saints for a high tackle got the side up field again. Attacking to the right again, Whitby hit his backrow partner Jake Davies who broke the line to find Roberts back inside to cross over under the posts. Whitby converted once again, 18-0.
With just 15 minutes gone the Saints were once again in for a try. A tip tackle in the Saints half once again let the team up field. Camped on the Robins line, the Saints played left with Davies swooping to play a run-around shape with Whitby, he found his other back rower Billy Keeley who sailed over. Whitby just missed from the awkward angle, 0-22.
There would be one final score for the Saints in the first half. As the 20 minute mark approached, another penalty allowed the Saints up the field and back into the Rovers half. A smart tap play saw Kian McGann find Penketh back down the short side, who stepped round the fullback to ground near the corner. A missed conversion from Whitby sent the side into the break ahead, 0-26!
It would be a quick start to the second half, with Whitby getting the Saints rolling again in the second half. Attacking to the right, Whitby attacked the line, dummied the defence to dive over and score. Successful conversion from Whitby takes the Saints past 30, 0-32 after just 4 minutes into the second half.
As the 60th minute hit, Keeley crossed over for his second of the game. Working their way up the field again, the Saints played left to Whitby who hit Keeley with a lovely flat ball, he stepped away from the Robins defence to go over and score his second of the game. Whitby couldn’t convert with his last attempt of the game, before coming off, 0-36.
Shortly after, Keeley would be in for his third, and the Saints 8th of the game. An almost identical score to his previous, this time McGann linked up with Keeley on the left, feeding him with a lovely ball to again burst the line and score to the left of the field and complete his hat-trick! McGann took over the kicking duties, but he missed with his first attempt, 0-40.
The Saints would cross over the line one final time, with Oliver Polec charging over. A quick play the ball saw Polec steam on to a flat ball, spin as he entered contact, get low and score right under the black dot to put the icing on a great performance from the Saints. McGann converted, meaning the final score finished with Saints winning 0-46!
Up next for the Academy is a Curtain Raiser clash at home, with the Warrington Wolves on Friday the 19th of July!
Hull KR: 1. Ryan Moses, 2. Lewis Wing, 3. Josh Smith, 4. Jake Parkes, 5. Oli Forsyth, 6. Henry Watkinson, 7. James Farrar, 8. Tom Smith, 9. Luke Foreman, 10. Archie Gray, 11. Barney Fishwick, 12. George Lauer, 13. Freddie Watts.
Bench: 14. Harrison Adams, 15. Hayden Todd, 16. Harry Fletcher, 17. Kerry Chaulke.
18th Player: 18. Alfie Walker
Saints Team: 1. Louie Roberts, 26. Elliot Jamieson, 2. Reilly Cosgrove, 4. Matthew Penketh, 5. Ellis Anderson, 9. Kian McGann, 7. George Whitby, 13. Oliver Polec, 23. Tom Humphreys, 20. Daniel Frost, 11. Billy Keeley, 12, Jake Davies, 21. Cole Marsh.
Bench: 14. Reece Robinson, 15. Oliver Garmston, 16. Alfie Tate, 25. Oliver Stankevitch.
18th Player: 24. Joel Kilgannon.
Tries: Billy Keeley (3), Cole Marsh, Ellis Anderson, Louie Roberts, George Whitby, Matthew Penketh, Oliver Polec.
Goals: George Whitby (4 from 7), Kian McGann (1 from 2).
HT: 0-26.
FT: 0-46.
