News

Saints beaten in Knowles’ Testimonial

Club, First Team, Match

Saints were beaten 12-40 by Salford Red Devils in Morgan Knowles' Testimonial game at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday

First Half

Saints almost had an opening within the first five minutes as new signing Tristan Sailor broke through a gap, an ankle tap stopped him in his tracks though as he looked to move deep into Salford territory.

It was Salford who took the lead though Marc Sneyd. The Salford #7 put in a low kick early on in the set, Shane Wright collected the bouncing ball and found Sneyd again to score to the left of the sticks. He converted his own try, 0-6 Salford led.

The hosts had a chance to build pressure after forcing a dropout following a good chase after a kick. Konrad Hurrell claimed the short dropout but a George Delaney knock on a few tackles in gifted the visitors the ball back deep inside their own half.

Another good opening came and went for the hosts. Sailor’s high kick on the last tackle was batted back inside by fellow new signing Kyle Feldt, the loose ball found Joe Batchelor but he was unable to get an offload away to a Saints player and Salford survived again.

Off the back of a long break downfield by Sailor, Saints applied more pressure to the Red Devils line. After a stoppage for an injury, Saints shifted it right but Feldt was unable to collect Sailor’s cut-out pass over the top.

Salford had a good chance to extend their lead after earning multiple ‘six again’ calls on the Saints line. The ball was moved from left to right but went to ground on the final pass, which would’ve allowed Chris Hankinson to score in the corner.

Just before the break, the visitors did extend their lead. They moved the ball through the hands down their left edge and Deon Cross broke a tackle before finishing in the corner. Sneyd converted from the left touchline, 0-12.

As we entered the final minute of the half, Salford had their third try. The Red Devils were awarded a penalty deep inside the Saints half as the Red V recovered the ball in an offside position. Soon into the set Kai Morgan dove from dummy half to score. Sneyd converted with the final kick of the half, as Salford led 0-18 at the break.

Second Half

The Red Devils also grabbed the first points of the second half. Esan Marsters broke through a gap down the right edge and found Hankinson in support who won the footrace to score in the corner. Sneyd added the extras from the right touchline, 0-24.

Three minutes later, they had another. Sneyd found Ryan Brierley who broke down the Salford left edge and was able to beat Harry Robertson to the far corner to score. Sneyd added another conversion, Salford led 0-30.

Saints grabbed their first points of the game in th3 54th minute. George Whitby put in a low kick behind the Salford defence and Robertson won the race to the loose ball to score. Whitby’s conversion bounced in off the post, 6-30 Saints trailed.

Another try nearly followed. Jake Burns saw an opportunity from dummy half and threw a show and go but was held up over the line. Later on in that set though, Saints did have their second try. The hosts kept the ball alive down our left edge, Matt Whitley’s attempted offload was batted down by a Salford player and James Bell picked it up and powered over from close range. Whitby added another two points, 12-30.

Salford then increased their lead. Saints attempted a short dropout which we claimed but then knocked on. A few tackles in, Sneyd got the ball in a central area put in a kick and Morgan grabbed the ball and scored under the sticks. Sneyd maintained his 100% record with the boot, 12-36.

Again, Saints had a good chance to grab more points. The Red V had numbers down their right edge but a poor decision saw the hosts kick early and the ball sailed into touch.

The visitors then had heir chance to add more points. Sneyd kicked a 20/40 which gave them field position in the Saints half. Salford shifted the ball left but some good scrambling defence from Saints pushed them into touch.

Salford grabbed their seventh try two minutes from time. After Saints knocked on inside our own ten, Salford went right from the scrum and worked the ball to Hankinson who scored his second try of the day in the corner. This time Sneyd was unable to add the extras, 12-40.

Those were the final points of the afternoon, as Saints were beaten 12-40 in Morgan Knowles’ Testimonial at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Konrad Hurrell, Lewis Murphy, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, George Delaney, Moses Mbye, Jake Wingfield, Matt Whitley, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: James Bell, Noah Stephens, Ben Davies, Jake Burns, Jonny Vaughan, Tee Ritson, George Whitby, Dayon Sambou, Owen Dagnall, Leon Cowen. Ciaran Nolan, Alfie Sinclair, Jake Davies, Cole Marsh.

Tries: Harry Robertson (54), James Bell (61)

Conversions: George Whitby (2 from 2)

Salford Red Devils Team: Ryan Brierley, Deon Cross, Esan Marsters, Tim Lafai, Chris Hankinson, Jayden Nikorima, Marc Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Joe Mellor, Chris Hill, Kallum Watkins, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Chris Atkin, Jack Ormondroyd, Justin Sangare, Joe Bullock, Matty Foster, Ben Hellewell, Kai Morgan, Nathan Connell, Charlie Glover.

Tries: Marc Sneyd (9), Deon Cross (34), Kai Morgan (40, 66), Chris Hankinson (48, 79), Ryan Brierley (51)

Conversions: Marc Sneyd (6 from 7)

HT: 0-18

FT: 12-40

Attendance: 4,766

You can download or print the official teamsheet by clicking here.

Principal Club Partners

LWC Logo

Platinum Club Partners

Elcons Logo
Astar Recruitment logo
BIFFA Logo

Associate Club Partners

St Helens College logo

Official Club Partners

Box Holders