Academy get off to winning start

First Half

It took 15 minutes for the first score of the game, with the Saints crossing over first. A dummy at the line on halfway saw him break through the line, falling over from the Giants last ditch tackle attempts, but the halfback got up quick, carried on his sprint to the line before throwing a bouncing pass out the left to Bobby Tyerman who blitzed past the Huddersfield winger on his outside to score. Jack Campbell stepped up to convert, but his conversion dragged left of the posts, 4-0 the Saints.

A penalty in the next set for the Saints after dragging Fin Haigh in to touch got the Saints in the Giants half. A shift to the left saw Campbell find Tyerman, he in turn for Cavell Kibula who skipped past the Huddersfield winger, before firing a ball back inside to Campbell who crossed over just to the left of the sticks. He converted his own score, extending the lead to 10-0.

22 minutes saw Huddersfield cross over. Repeated pressure on the Saints line finally paid-off, with Jude Jackson scooting over from dummy-half. Connor McGuinness stepped up and converted from just right of the sticks, 10-6.

Ten minutes later, the Giants would score again. A kick to the left corner saw Zack Milnes jumper higher then any Saints defender to catch the ball and crash over to score, despite the efforts of the Saints to hold up the ball. McGuinness missed with the conversion, scores level 10-10.

But, the Saints would enter the break ahead. A smart scoot from Campbell saw him skip across the field to the left, finding Tyler Mills whose quick hands released Tyerman to attack the Giants, he found his wingman in Kibula who raced down the side-line to get away and score for the Saints two minutes before halftime. Campbell converted from just left of the posts, 16-10 at the break.

Second Half

The Saints started the second half defending their own line, holding the Giants out. They played to the right but a great read from Tyerman saw him intercept the ball on his own 10 metre line, and sprint away to score in the left corner. Campbell stepped up and converted the try from the awkward angle, 22-10 the Saints led.

With 15 minutes remaining, the Saints extended their lead. Deep inside their own half, the Saints spread the ball outside to Chris Matagi, whose offload to Kibula saw him break away. His pass back inside was batted down by McGuinness, but Kibula picked up the ball, stepped inside beating multiple defenders before accelerating through the middle of the field to score his second. Campbell converted, 28-10 to the Saints.

Huddersfield didn’t go away, a break from a scrum in their own half got them up the field, close to the line Lucas Earley crashed over from dummy-half to score. McGuinness converted to cut the lead, 28-16.

It would be the Saints who put the last point on the board. 15 metres out from the Huddersfield line, McGann set himself deep to drop a goal, and slotted it over to push the Saints lead to 13, and seal the game for the Saints giving them a 29-16 win in their first game of the season.

🙌 The Saints Academy start their 2026 season with a win over the Giants!

Our Red V try scorers were Tyerman x2, Campbell and Kibula x2

4/5 goals were converted by Campbell, with a drop goal added by McGann#COYS pic.twitter.com/xVGHpHzdCA

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) March 7, 2026

A good opening performance from the Saints, who get their first win on the board. Next up is last years Academy Grand Final winners, the Warrington Wolves on Sunday 22nd March at The BrewDog Stadium!

Match Summary

Saints Team: 1. Jack Campbell, 2. Cavell Kibula, 3. Bobby Tyerman, 4. Luke Brighouse, 6. Fin Haigh, 13. Dan Kent, 7. Tyler McGann, 8. Dec Lyon, 9. James Patterson, 10. Toby Bottell, 11. Tyler Mills, 17. James Moss, 18. Chris Matagi.

Bench: 23. Ollie Roby, 24. Matthew Sinclair, 26. Riley Heath, 16. Liam Nixon.

18th Man: 14. Leon Davies.

Tries: Cavell Kibula (2), Bobby Tyerman (2), Jack Campbell.

Goals: Jack Campbell (4 from 5).

Drop Goals: Tyler McGann.

Huddersfield Team: 1. Connor McGuinness, 2. Austin Byrne, 3. Coors Joshua, 4. Harvey Barker, 5. Zack Milnes, 6. Jack Twigg, 7. Woody Potter, 8. Lewis Bottomley, 9. Jude Jackson, 10. Stanley Hobson, 11. Francis Appleyard, 12. Connor Hanson, 13. Logan Jackson.

Bench: 14. Lucas Earley, 15. Kieran Massey, 16. Finlay Gale, 17. Reuben Tetteh.

18th Man: 18. Alfie Merta.

Tries: Jude Jackson, Zack Milnes.

Goals: Connor McGunniess (2 from 3).

HT: 16-10

FT: 29-16