Saints suffered a 34-4 defeat to Challenge Cup finalists Hull Kingston Rovers in East Yorkshire on Friday evening...
First Half
The hosts took the lead with the first chance of the game six minutes in. A Saints error inside our own half gifted the Robins field position, they used up a few tackles before going down the short-side on their left edge. Mikey Lewis found Kelepi Tanginoa, he offloaded to Jack Broadbent who scored in the corner. Arthur Mourgue converted, 6-0 Saints trailed.
Five minutes later, they had a second try. They spent some time camped in the Saints half following the opening try, on the last tackle they moved it right and Peta Hiku cut inside and was able to power his way over from close range. Mourgue converted, 12-0.
Sixteen minutes in, we had our first trip to the video referee. After a successful Captain’s Challenge, Saints spent several sets camped on the Robins line. Saints then moved the ball into the middle of the pitch from the left edge, Alex Walmsley broke through a gap and drove towards the line but was held up.
The very next play, we had another trip upstairs. From the restart, Saints moved the ball left. Lewis Murphy collected a cut-out pass from Jack Welsby, cut inside from the wing and bounced his way over the line under pressure to open the Saints scoring for the night. George Whitby’s kick hit the post, 12-4 Saints trailed.
.@Saints1890 are on the scoreboard 🤝#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/ZRCcKofLJ8
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 30, 2025
Saints were reduced to twelve for ten minutes just after the midway point of the first half. Mourgue raced down the Robins right edge in Saints territory and was caught high by Deon Cross who was sent to the sin bin.
Hull KR had a good chance to increase their lead on the half-hour mark. They created an overlap down their left edge but Mark Percival did well to get across to Joe Burgess and force him to pass back inside, the hosts tried to keep the ball alive but Morgan Knowles was on hand to recover it on his own line.
Minutes later, they did have another try. Jez Litten collected the ball from dummy half and spotted space behind the Saints defence. He kicked early and Broadbent won the race to the loose ball to score his second try in the corner. Mourgue converted, 18-4.
From the restart, they had a fourth try. In the middle of the field, Sam Luckley offloaded to Mikey Lewis who raced towards the left corner and stumbled past Harry Robertson’s challenge to score. Mourgue’s kick hit the post, 22-4 Saints trailed.
They had a fifth try before the break. Lewis tried a chip over the top which was deflected back into his hands. He offloaded in a tackle to Elliot Minchella who scored under the sticks. Mourgue converted, 28-4 Hull KR led at the break in East Yorkshire.
⏸ A poor first half at the home of the Robins.#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/m0SiLb16QJ
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) May 30, 2025
Second Half
Saints tried to hitback early on in the second half. First, they visitors spent a set camped on the hosts line, but Jonny Lomax’s kick on the last tackle was too strong. Then, off the back of consecutive penalties, the Red V moved it left but Cross was held up short of the line on the last tackle.
Sixteen minutes into the second half, we had another trip to the video referee. Following consecutive penalties, Saints moved the ball left and Lomax threw a cut-out pass to Murphy who looked to have finished spectacularly in the corner. As he grounded the ball though, part of it was in touch and Hull KR had the ball back.
It was the Robins who grabbed the first points of the second half. The hosts moved the ball from right to left, Lewis threw a dummy, broke through a gap and scored his second try in the corner. Mourgue converted, 34-4.
Saints tried to add some more points. A penalty gave Saints good field position. On the last tackle Whitby put in a low kick which forced the hosts to concede a dropout. The visitors couldn’t make the most of the extra set though, as Curtis Sironen knocked on trying to force an offload.
The fulltime siren sounded at Sewell Group Craven Park, as Saints were beaten 34-4 by the Robins in East Yorkshire.
⏹ Full time in Round 13 at Sewell Group Craven Park.#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/DNfbO2xxfo
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) May 30, 2025
Match Summary
Hull KR Team: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Jack Broadbent, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, James Batchelor, Kelepi Tanginoa, Elliot Minchella.
Interchanges: Sam Luckley, Jack Brown, Eribe Doro, Bill Leyland.
18th Man: AJ Wallace.
Tries: Jack Broadbent (6, 33), Peta Hiku (12), Mikey Lewis (36, 61), Elliot Minchella (40)
Conversions: Arthur Mourgue (5 from 6)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tristan Sailor, Mark Percival, Deon Cross, Lewis Murphy, Jonny Lomax, George Whitby, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Matt Whitley, Morgan Knowles,
Interchanges: Moses Mbye, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney, Harry Robertson.
18th Man: Noah Stephens.
Tries: Lewis Murphy (16)
Conversions: George Whitby (0 from 1)
Sin Bin: Deon Cross (22)
HT: 28-4
FT: 34-4
