Saints suffered Golden Point heartbreak, as Warrington progressed to the Semi-Finals with a 23-22 victory...
Warrington took the lead within 90 seconds. Tommy Makinson fumbled the kick off, the hosts using up a few tackles before shifting it left, Toby King getting the ball, threw a dummy and was able to cut back inside to open the scoring. Josh Thewlis missed the kick, 0-4 Saints trailed.
Twelve minutes in, we had a trip to the video referee. Saints marched forward, and earned a six again call off the back of a Daryl Clark run. We then shifted it right, Jonny Lomax throwing the cut-out pass to Makinson who dove over under pressure in the corner. After a lengthy review, the on-field verdict of try was agreed with and Saints were level. Mark Percival nailed the conversion from the right touchline, 4-6 Saints led.
Trademark @TommyMak21 😇#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/hA1ul3LVvl
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 28, 2024
We had another trip to the video referee in the 24th minute. A high kick from Lewis Dodd forced a Warrington error. On the repeats set, Saints moved it left, Jack Welsby found Percival who span over from close range. Again, the on-field verdict of try was agreed with. He added the extras as well, 4-12 Saints led.
Punishing the mistake 👊@MarkPercival22 extends @Saints1890‘s lead 😇#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/wwGpNHPeA3
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 28, 2024
Again we went upstairs for another potential Saints try with eight minutes of the first half to go. On the last tackle, Saints opted to go down the short side, Welsby found Makinson who crashed over from close range. For the third time, Saints had an on-field verdict of try which was agreed with. Percival’s kick hit the outside of the post, 4-16.
Going the short side 🔥@TommyMak21 is over for his second 😯#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/p83x7pej38
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 28, 2024
Warrington got back into it from the kick off. An incorrect play the ball from James Bell gifted the hosts good field position. On the last tackle, George Williams broke through a gap down the left edge and found Matty Ashton who cut inside to score. Thewlis added the extras, 10-16.
With less than a minute of the half to go, Lomax attempted a one-pointer but it went well wide. Saints leading 10-16 at the break in Warrington with it all to play for in the second half.
⏸ The Saints have the advantage at the break in the Eliminator Play-Off.
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➡ https://t.co/DaK99h2ufe#COYS pic.twitter.com/gMfMyDOhWj— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 28, 2024
Warrington opened the second half well. Matt Dufty claimed a high Lomax kick and raced downfield before eventually being tackled by Welsby. On the last, Williams put in a kick which Thewlis claimed, but Welsby pushed him into touch.
The hosts had another try soon after. Off the back of a penalty, Warrington moved into the Saints half. Williams threw a cut-out pass to King who broke through to score. Thewlis converted to level it at 16-16.
Saints had their own opportunity to apply pressure after Thewlis played the ball incorrectly deep inside his own half. Dodd’s low kick on the last was deflected by Warrington, before Saints fumbled it.
Warrington then took the lead. A sloppy pass from dummy half was batted backwards from Williams into the arms of King, he found Ashton who scored easily in the corner. Thewlis converted, 22-16 Warrington led.
With less than 90 seconds to go, we headed upstairs for another potential Saints try. The visitors moved it left, Sione Mata’utia holding onto it before releasing Jon Bennison who dove over in the corner. The on-field verdict of try was agreed with. Percival converted from the left touchline to level it with the final kick of the game, as we headed to golden point extra time.
Nerves of steel 🥶
We are going to Golden Point! 👀#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/jQy4FS9skA
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 28, 2024
Warrington had the first chance at a one-pointer, but Williams’ drop-goal attempt was charged down and the visitors recovered the loose ball.
Saints made a mess of the following play, before Williams kicked the winning one-pointer the following set, as Saints were eliminated following a 23-22 defeat in golden point extra time.
⏹ The Saints’ 2024 season comes to an end in heartbreaking fashion in Golden Point Extra Time at the home of the Wolves.#COYS pic.twitter.com/4o5u80Z1gv
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 28, 2024
Match Summary
Warrington Wolves Team: Matt Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Toby King, Rodrick Tai, Matty Ashton, George Williams, Josh Drinkwater, Luke Yates, Danny Walker, Zane Musgrove, Matty Nicholson, John Bateman, Ben Currie.
Interchanges: James Harrison, Paul Vaughan, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell.
18th Man: Arron Lindop.
Tries: Toby King (2, 54), Matty Ashton (36, 68)
Conversions: Josh Thewlis (3 from 4)
Dropgoal: George Williams (84)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Sione Mata’utia, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: James Bell, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Jake Burns.
18th Man: Ben Davies.
Tries: Tommy Makinson (12, 32), Mark Percival (24), Jon Bennison (79)
Conversions: Mark Percival (3 from 4)
HT: 10-16
FT: 22-22
GPET: 23-22
Attendance:
