Saints lost 18-12 to Leigh Leopards at Leigh Sports Village on Friday evening in their final regular season game of 2024...
After a hard fought opening ten minutes, we had our first trip to the video referee eleven minutes in. Off the back of a Ricky Leutele knock on, Saints used up a few tackles before switching it to the right edge, Jack Welsby finding Tommy Makinson who finished in the corner. After a lengthy review, the try was disallowed for an obstruction by Sione Mata’utia.
The Leopards then broke down the other end through John Asiata, however a knock on from Edwin Ipape under the sticks gifted Saints the ball back.
Another trip upstairs came in the 21st minute. A mistake from Saints gave the hosts the ball ten metres out. After a few tackles, Asiata broke a tackle and stumbled his way over from close range. Despite the on-field call of no try, the four-pointer was awarded following a lengthy review. Matt Moylan converted, 6-0 Saints trailed.
The hosts threatened again, as they tried to shift it down their right edge, however Darnell McIntosh fumbled Moylan’s pass, as the Saints defence held firm on our own line.
Saints tried to wrestle their way back into the contest. Moylan was penalised for a penalty, meaning Saints began their set in the Leigh half. The Red V camped on the Leopards line, with Lomax’s kick forcing a dropout, but were unable to make the pressure count.
Leigh had a second try less than three minutes before the break. The hosts broke down their left edge, Moylan throwing a dummy, before finding Leutele who threw a dummy himself before scoring under pressure in the corner. Moylan converted from the left touchline, 12-0 the Leopards led at the break.
⏸ Saints trail by twelve at the Leigh Sports Village.
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➡ https://t.co/smoSMLjV5l#COYS pic.twitter.com/KTPx2kqnIG— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 20, 2024
Leigh had the best chance to open the second half scoring eleven minutes in. Moylan found Josh Charnley with a cut-out pass down the left wing, he broke and was tackled by Jonny Lomax but was able to offload back in the direction of Moylan with the try-line beckoning, but the ball went to ground and Saints survived.
Soon after, Leigh were reduced to twelve men for ten minutes. Leutele caught Welsby high in the midfield and saw a yellow card as a result.
Saints then had another try verdict sent to the video referee. Saints shifted the ball from left to right, Lomax threw the cut-out pass to Makinson who finished well under pressure in the corner. Despite the on-field call of no try, the four-pointer was awarded after a lengthy review. Jon Bennison converted from the right touchline, 12-6 Saints trailed.
The following set, we had another trip to the video referee. A high kick by Dodd was allowed to bounce by Moylan, Saints patted it backwards and Dodd found a pass to Morgan Knowles, who scored from close range. This time the on-field decision of try was quickly agreed with. Bennison levelled the scores with the conversion, 12-12.
Scenes from @Saints1890 🤯
Two quick fire tries from the visitors and the scores are level 😱#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/68wkeuR7oK
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 20, 2024
Leigh re-claimed the league with thirteen minutes to go. A Saints error deep inside our own half gifted the hosts possession. They shifted the ball left, Moylan finding Charnley with the final pass who raced away to score in the corner. Moylan’s kick landed short, 16-12 Leigh led.
It was soon a six-point game. Makinson was judged to have been tackled before forcing an offload which gave Leigh a penalty. Moylan kicked the goal, 18-12 we trailed.
Saints tried to grab a third try, but couldn’t find another score, as the Red V suffered a 18-12 defeat to the Leopards in their final regular season game of the year.
⏹ The Saints fall to a defeat against the Leopards in Round 27.#COYS pic.twitter.com/zASlJoZSVc
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 20, 2024
Match Summary
Leigh Leopards Team: Matt Moylan, Darnell McIntosh, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Edwin Ipape, Rob Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Frankie Halton, John Asiata.
Interchanges: Jack Hughes, Owen Trout, Brad Dwyer, Aaron Pene.
18th Man: Matt Davis.
Tries: John Asiata (21), Ricky Leutele (37), Josh Charnley (67)
Conversions: Matt Moylan (2 from 3)
Penalties: Matt Moylan (1 from 1)
Sin Bin: Ricky Leutele (53)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Sione Mata’utia, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, George Delaney, Jake Burns, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Daryl Clark, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi, Noah Stephens.
18th Man: Ben Davies.
Tries: Tommy Makinson (59), Morgan Knowles (62)
Conversions: Jon Bennison (2 from 2)
HT: 12-0
FT: 18-12
Attendance: 9,899
