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Saints progress to Challenge Cup Fourth Round

Club, First Team, Match

Paul Wellens' side beat West Hull 0-38 on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Last 16 of the Betfred Challenge Cup!

Kick off was delayed at Sewell Group Craven Park until 2:15pm, as fans continued pouring into the stadium ahead of kick off.

First Half

Saints had a good opening four minutes in. After the visitors forced an error, the ball was shifted left as Tristan Sailor threw a cut-out pass to fellow debutant Lewis Murphy but some good cover defence from West Hull forced him into touch short of the try-line.

The Red V continued to apply the pressure. West Hull’s defence proved a tough test to break down early on though, with errors on the line costing Saints in great field position.

Fourteen minutes in, Saints did take the lead. On the back of a penalty, Saints moved the ball right and Sailor threw a cut-out pass to Jon Bennison on the wing to dive over in the corner. George Whitby couldn’t convert from the touchline, 0-4.

West Hull moved forward for their first real attack in the 23rd minute. A good kick in behind the Saints defence on the last tackle was allowed to bounce and Jack Welsby had to clear it for a dropout.

Just before the half-hour mark, Saints had another try. The visitors kept the ball alive down the right edge, Welsby then ran back inside, found Whitby who broke a tackle before diving over underneath the sticks. He added the extras, 0-10 Saints led.

A third try quickly followed. Sailor broke, he found Harry Robertson who scored in the corner. Whitby added another two points, 0-16.

Try number four for the visitors came three minutes later. A high kick wasn’t dealt with by West Hull, as Saints claimed it and offloaded it to the wing where Bennison broke a tackle and dove over in the corner for his second try of the afternoon. Whitby added the extras, 0-22.

In the final minute of the first forty, West Hull tried to make something happen. An early high kick to their right edge in midfield was claimed, but a good tackle from Saints knocked the ball loose. They were made to pay for it, as Saints grabbed a fifth try of the half on the hooter. Whitby found Matt Whitley who strolled over to score under the sticks. Whitby added the extras with the final kick of the half, 0-28 Saints led at the break.

Second Half

It took just three second half minutes for Saints to score another. Robertson broke whilst returning the ball down the right edge, he found Sailor in support on his inside and he was able to race crossfield and dove over to grab his first Saints try. Whitby added the extras, 0-34.

West Hull tried to grab their first points. A neat move down their left edge saw Elliott Jones put in a kick which Saints pushed behind for a dropout.

Bennison could’ve had a hat-trick. Saints moved the ball through the hands well down the right edge following an offload from Konrad Hurrell. Bennison broke down the wing and found Sailor in support, he offloaded in the tackle back to Bennison but he stepped into touch before scoring.

Saints grabbed their seventh try just before the hour mark. James Bell was held up just short of the sticks and a few tackles later, Saints went down the short side on the left and Bennison found Murphy with a great cut-out pass to grab his first Saints try. Whitby’s conversion attempt landed just short, 0-38.

An eighth could have soon followed. A high kick was contested, debutant Owen Dagnall fumbling the ball in midair before regathering the ball before it hit the ground and stretched out to score. The referee however ruled knock on and ruled out the try.

With six minutes to go, Saints tried to find the debutant again. This time Whitby sent a high, hanging kick to the corner which Dagnall contested for. Ultimately it was Eligh Wilkinson who came down with the ball and was able to escape a dropout too.

Saints had another good chance to add points before the end. Joe Batchelor broke through a gap and threw a pass to Hurrell who had an open field ahead of him, but the ball went to ground and the hosts regathered it.

That was the final action of the afternoon, as Saints progressed to the next round of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a 0-38 victory over West Hull at Sewell Group Craven Park.

Match Summary

West Hull Team: Elliott Jones, Keiran Masike, Tom Verity, Jack Watts, Eligh Wilkinson, Josh Wood, Jack Townend, Oscar Ellerington, Jacob Moore, Josh Jarvis, Kian Goodhand, Ben Arbon, Josh Oliver.

Interchanges: Matty Grant, Louis Crowther, Ryan Wilson, Robbie Jones.

18th Man: AJ Chambers.

Tries: 

Conversions: 

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jon Bennison, Harry Robertson, Konrad Hurrell, Lewis Murphy, Tristan Sailor, George Whitby, Jake Wingfield, Jake Burns, George Delaney, Joe Batchelor, Matt Whitley, James Bell.

Interchanges: Noah Stephens, Ben Davies, Owen Dagnall, Alfie Sinclair.

18th Man: Jake Davies.

Tries: Jon Bennison (14, 35), George Whitby (29), Harry Robertson (32), Matt Whitley (40), Tristan Sailor (43), Lewis Murphy (59)

Conversions: George Whitby (5 from 7)

HT: 0-28

FT: 0-38

Attendance: 

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