Saints lost 48-10 to the Leigh Leopards in our final away fixture of the 2026 season at the Progress with Unity Stadium.
First Half
Saints had the first chance to build pressure six minutes in. Jack Welsby’s kick forced David Armstrong into an error inside his own five metre line. The visitors couldn’t take advantage though, with an error early in the set.
The Leopards then took the lead ten minutes in. A high kick was fumbled and bounced around, Adam Cook found Josh Charnley on the edge who breezed over to score in the corner. Cook added the kick, 6-0.
Two minutes later, they had another. Innes Senior raced away down their left edge on the overlap, he found Armstrong in support on his inside who scored despite Welsby’s best efforts. Cook again added the two, 12-0.
Seventeen minutes in, Saints responded. Armstrong knocked on inside his own twenty. From the scrum, Saints moved the ball right and Tristan Sailor found Jacob Douglas who finished brilliantly in the corner under pressure. Sailor missed the conversion attempt, 12-4 we trailed.
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Nine minutes later, Saints had a second try. Harry Robertson recieved the ball inside his own half and stepped his way past Keenan Brand, moving into Leigh territory and finding Sailor who went over under the sticks. He converted his own score, 12-10.
Just before the half-hour mark, Leigh had a third try. Senior broke downfield before being stopped by Sailor inside our thirty. The following play, the Leopards shifted it from left to right Umyla Hanley receiving it and racing through a gap to score. Cook added the kick, 18-10.
Five minutes before the break they almost had another. Brand threw a dummy down the left edge and broke through a gap but some good scrambling defence from the visitors held him up short of the line.
Less than two minutes before the break, they did score again. Under the sticks, Edwin Ipape got a scruffy offload away. Cook reacted quickest to kick the ball and ground it himself over the line. He converted his own score from in front of the sticks with the final action of the half, 24-10 we trailed at the break.
⏸️ Half time in Round 26#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/2DoysxC1uN
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 4, 2026
Second Half
Saints had a good chance seven minutes into the second half. Welsby broke initially before Armstrong dragged him down. We then went to Shane Wright who had the chance to send Deon Cross over but opted to keep hold instead and was tackled.
Three minutes later, we were reduced to twelve men. Mark Percival caught Armstrong high as he went into contact and saw yellow.
The visitors had a chance down their left edge with Senior but some great covering Red V defence pushed him into touch.
Just before the hour-mark, Leigh had another try. Ipape picked up the ball from dummy half inside our ten and powered his way over from close range. Cook added the kick, 30-10.
Four minutes later, they had a sixth try. The hosts moved the ball from left to right, Hanley proving too strong from close range down the right edge. Cook added the kick, 36-10.
Ten minutes before, they had another try. Saints made an error inside our own ten. The hosts used up a few tackles before Cook put Jacob Alick-Wiencke through a gap to score. Cook converted, 42-10.
The hosts added an eighth and final try with 30 seconds to go. Cook found Robbie Mulhern down the left edge and he broke through a gap to score. Cook added the kick with the final action of the game, 48-10 the Red V were beaten at the Progress with Unity Stadium.
⏹️ Full time in Round 26#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/9YHD1msepy
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) September 4, 2026
Match Summary
Leigh Leopards Team: David Armstrong, Innes Senior, Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley, Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam, Joe Ofahengaue, Liam Horne, Robbie Mulhern, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Owen Trout, Isaac Liu.
Interchanges: Edwin Ipape, Matt Davis, Andrew Badrock, Louis Brogan.
18th Man: Gareth O’Brien.
Tries: Josh Charnley (10), David Armstrong (12), Umyla Hanley (29, 62), Adam Cook (39), Edwin Ipape (58), Jacob Alick-Wiencke (71), Robbie Mulhern (80)
Conversions: Adam Cook (8 from 8)
Saints Team: Tristan Sailor, Jacob Douglas, Mark Percival, Jack Welsby, Deon Cross, Harry Robertson, Jonny Lomax, David Klemmer, Tom Humphreys, Jacob Host, Billy Keeley, Shane Wright, Joe Shorrocks.
Interchanges: Cole Marsh, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi, Oscar Knox.
18th Man: Jack Campbell.
Tries: Jacob Douglas (17), Tristan Sailor (25)
Conversions: Tristan Sailor (1 from 2)
Yellow Card: Mark Percival (50)
HT: 24-10
FT: 48-10
Attendance: 9,589
