THE Saints put in their worst performance of the season against the best opposition and were, unfortunately, soundly beaten 38-24 losing their 100% start to the season, writes Graham Henthorne.
Despite only arriving at the ground 20 minutes after the original kick off and having only 10 minutes warm up time the Rhinos finished the match much the stronger overturning a 14 point deficit to run out worthy winners.
As expected with that kind of run up to the game the Saints were first out of the traps racing into a 12 point lead in the opening 10 minutes through tries to Luke Thompson and Lewis Galbraith.
A great grubber from Dom Speakman coupled with a good chase trapped the Rhinos full back in goal giving the Saints a repeat set. On the second tackle Thompson broke the line going inside the full back to score.
Galbraith mopped up a loose Danny Yates pass to outpace his opposite number to score wide out. Two towering conversions from the trusty boot of Lewis Charnock gave full value to the scores.
The Saints sat back, however, giving the visitors a sniff and it was only a magnificent try saving tackle from André Savelio, holding the Rhinos player up over the line on his own, which kept the Rhinos at bay.
The respite was short lived, however, as they scored on the next set in the left corner.
The visitors got closer as the Saints Achilles heel under the high ball surfaced giving possession back to the Rhinos who capitalised scoring on the third tackle.
It took a superb individual try from Corey Lee on the stroke of the break to give the Saints a bit of breathing space. The full back burst through the line on his own 20 showing a clean pair of heels to his opposite number as he outpaced him to the corner.
Due to the late kick off there was only a two minute turn around with neither side leaving the pitch.
The Saints again starting brightly with Matty Fleming scoring in the right corner. The big winger jumped highest to claim Charnock’s neat chip on the last out of the air above the grasp of his opponent.
That was unfortunately as good as it got for the Saints as the wealth of Rhinos possession took its toll.
Too many tackles were missed giving the visitors easy metres up the middle resulting in five tries in the final half hour.
This was obviously a disappointing end to the first big test for this side. It’s not going to be any easier next week but that will be the acid test. How will this Saints side respond to tonight’s poor display.
Best of a disappointing bunch were Charnock and Thompson but many more will have to turn up next week to turn it around.
Match Summary:
Saints U19s:
Tries: Corey Lee, Matty Fleming, Lewis Galbraith, Luke Thompson.
Goals: Lewis Charnock 4.
Leeds U19s:
Tries: Josh Sunley 2, Ash Handley, Luke Briscoe, Liam Sutcliffe, Mason Tonks, Robbie Ward.
Goals: Ben White 5.
Half Time: 18-10
Full Time: 24-38
Teams:
Saints:
1. Corey Lee; 2. Matty Fleming, 4. Greg Wilde, 3. Lewis Galbraith, 5. Ben Parry; 6. Lewis Charnock, 18. Danny Yates; 8. James Tilley, 9. Dom Speakman, 16. Adam Hesketh, 11. Luke Thompson, 12. André Savelio, 13. Alex Clare.
Subs: 10. Tommy Holland, 14. Matty Fozard, 15. Connor Dwyer , 19. Chris Webster.
Leeds:
21. Josh Sunley; 2. Ash Handley, 24. Luke Briscoe, 4. Jordan Harper, 5. James Duckworth; 6. Liam Sutcliffe, 7. Ben White; 26. Liam McAvoy, 19. Vila Halafihi, 10. Jordan Baldwinson, 20. Alex Foster, 22. Mason Tonks, 4. Eliot Minchella.
Subs: 8. Jack Cockerham, 14. Rob Mulhern, 16. Thomas Minns, 17. Robbie Ward.
