Our Academy travelled to Wakefield, and came home with a gutsy 26-28 win in a great contest between the two sides!
First Half
Wakefield would get over for the first try of the game, with nine minutes on the clock. Mason McLelland attacked down the right side, finding Harry Knight on the wing who dove in and scored in the corner despite the scrambling attempt from Cavell Kibula to put the man in touch. Jackson Cummins missed, 4-0.
It was a great response from the Saints which followed, crossing just four minutes later. A great carry from Noah Carter got the Saints on the front foot, his quick play the ball was scooped up Tyler McGann who attacked right behind the ruck, he broke through, rounded the fullback to score under the posts, finishing off a quick attack starting in the Saints half! Jack Campbell converted, 4-6 the Saints.
It would be another quick score, this time heading the way of Wakefield. Right on the Saints line a small, chipped kick to the Wakefield right looked to be knocked forward by Charlie Tinker, and then dove on by Marco Morgab, but the referee judged it to come off Kibula, and awarded the try. Cummins missed once more, 8-6.
Wakefield would get another chance on the Saints line after a forward pass in their own 20. An attack to the right once more saw Knight get in at the corner for his second. Cummins conversion went wide, 12-6, 26 minutes gone.
A penalty for what seemed to be judged as interference, Cummins took the opportunity to convert and sent Wakefield into the break eight ahead, 14-6.
Second Half
The Saints came out in the second half with a point to prove and did just that in the first two minutes. Some strong carries from Riley Hetah and Tyler Mills got the Saints on the front foot, which the Saints took advantage of. An attack down the left short side, McGann found Bobby Tyerman, who’s quick hands found Kibula who dived in with a brilliant finish in the corner to score. Campbell converted from out-wide, 14-12.
The lead went to the Saints on the 50th minute, this Tyerman becoming the scorer. An outstanding kick pressure from skipper Oscar Knox forced a poor kick from Wakefield, retreating Tyerman caught the ball, before stepping the Trinity edge defence to race away and score to the left of the field, a try that put the Saints in a deserved lead. Campbell just missed with the conversion, 14-16.
Another great defensive set saw the Saints receive possession on half-way and started a full set in Wakefield territory. A strong carry from Kibula got the Saints moving, a shift to the right saw Luke Brighouse brought down, playing back left, McGann was hit late, but the Saints kept moving, Tyerman burst through again stepping his opposition centre, his offload inside to Jamie Billsborough looked to be a certain try, but he was brought down just short. A smart pass left to Kibula saw him spin over and score his second, and Saints third in quick succession. Campbell couldn’t convert, 14-20.
The Saints dominance continued, but the Wakefield defence held firm. After repeated penalties, Wakefield’s Otis Stephens found himself in the sin-bin, which the Saints took the chance to increase their lead by 2. Campbell stepped up and sent the ball through the sticks, 14-22 the Saints with 15 minutes left to play.
Wakefield wouldn’t go away, and started throwing caution to the wind, looking to get back into the game. Some strong carries got Trinity in good field territory. The Saints defence kept turning up, but a pass from Cummings to Mason Bowes saw him go through to score under the posts despite the Saints attempts to hold the ball up. Cummins converted, 20-22.
A good response followed from the Saints. A forward pass on half-way gave Saints the ball, and after some good carries towards the line they got themselves on the Wakefield line. A shift right, Campbell slipped out of 3 tackles, offloading to McGann, he stepped past two more before giving it back to Campbell on the inside to score next to the posts. Campbell converted, 20-28.
It would be a nervy final five minutes, after an error from the Saints gave Wakefield good field position, the Saints held out multiple attempts, but a last tackle grubber towards the posts was grounded by Bowes for his second, and with a successful conversion from Cummings, the Saints led by 2, 26-28.
But that would be it for the scoring, the Saints held out one final attack from Wakefield, to take home a much-deserved win, in a battling performance!
FT | An outstanding second half from our Saints see's them take home the win!
A double from Cavell Kibula, along with tries from Bobby Tyerman & Jack Campbell get the Saints over the line 🙌
A much deserved win, well done gents!#COYS pic.twitter.com/5MS8P2bVO7
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) May 7, 2026
A break in fixtures now for our Academy, but next up is a trip to Castleford on Wednesday 10th June.
Match Summary:
Saints Team: 1. Jack Campbell, 2. Cavell Kibula, 3. Bobby Tyerman, 26. Luke Brighouse, 5. Noah Carter, 6. Finley Haigh, 7. Tyler McGann, 8. Toby Bottell, 9. James Patterson, 12. Oscar Knox, 11. James Moss, 13. Tyler Mills, 18. Chris Matagi.
Bench: 14. Jamie Billsborough, 15. Riley Heath, 16. Callum Holmes, 17. Owen Schuster.
18th Man: 20. Tom Glover.
Tries: Cavell Kibula (2), Tyler McGann, Bobby Tyerman, Jack Campbell.
Goals: Jack Campbell (3 from 5).
Penalty Goals: Jack Campbell (1 from 1).
Wakefield Team: 1. Robbie Brook, 2. Harry Knight, 3 Charlie Tinker, 4. Harry Mervill, 5. James Sharp, 6. Mason McLelland, 7. Jackson Cummins, 8. Mason Bowes, 9. Will Rolls, 10. Zack Clegg, 11. Sean Hall, 12. Marco Morgan, 13. Corey Abraham.
Bench: 14. Theo Ndlovu, 15. Eddie Ashman, 16. Coby Davies, 17. Otis Stephens.
18th Man: 18. Ethan Taylor
Tries: Harry Knight (2), Mason Bowes (2), Marco Morgan.
Goals: Jackson Cummins (2 from 5).
Penalty Goals: Jackson Cummins (1 from 1).
Sin-bin: Otis Stephens (63 mins).
HT: 14-6
FT: 26-28
