Catalans Dragons v Saints

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Saints claim three-peat after beating Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford!

Saints have won the Super League Grand Final for the third year in a row, after beating the Catalans Dragons 12-10 at Old Trafford on Saturday evening!

Saints dominated the opening five minutes to the game. First Tommy Makinson was held up over the line before we fumbled the ball in the right corner as we looked for an offload.

Despite the early dominance it was Catalans who had the chance to go ahead after Saints got caught offside following a charged down kick. James Maloney put the ball through the sticks to make it 2-0 early on to the French side.

We grabbed our first points of the game in the 13th minute. A flowing move from left to right ended with Lachlan Coote finding Kevin Naiqama, who along with Coote was playing his final game for the Club, managed to ground the ball despite Catalans’ best attempts to hold the Fijian up. Coote missed the conversion, we led 4-2.

We could have had our lead extended a few minutes later as Regan Grace touched down under the sticks, but the try was not referred to the video referee after a supposed Saints knock on in the build up. Saints were then awarded a penalty after a Benjamin Garcia high shot on Jonny Lomax in the middle of the field. Coote took the kick and nailed it to give us a 6-2 lead.

The visitors were then awarded a second penalty within kicking range, once again they opted to go for two points. Maloney converted from in front of the sticks, 6-4. Saints had a chance to grab a second try a minute before the break, but Grace was bundled into touch by some scrambling Dragons defenders.

6-4 was the score at the break, as Naiqama’s 13th minute try was the solitary four-pointer of the game so far. Two penalties a-piece for both sides via the boots of Maloney and Coote the other scores.

Catalans could have had their first try a few minutes into the second half. Tommy Makinson made the tackle on Fouad Yaha but it was deemed high, Makinson was then sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.

The French side did grab their first try of the game in the 50th minute. A high kick to the corner was nor dealt with by Saints and Mike McMeeken reacted quickest to ground the ball. Maloney added the extras, 10-6.

Saints could have gone ahead on the hour mark as Joe Batchelor made a big break down our right-hand side, but his pass was intercepted by Sam Tomkins.

Saints looked to have levelled the game in the 66th minute. A grubber kick by Lomax was chased by Naiqama, who won the race to the ball and grounded it for his second of the game. The try was awarded after a video referee review. Coote added a crucial two points to give us a 12-10 lead back.

That was the be the final score of the game, as Saints won their third Grand Final in a row to be crowned Champions of the Betfred Super League once again!

Catalans Dragons Team: Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Samisoni Langi, Dean Whare, Fouad Yaha, James Maloney, Josh Drinkwater, Gil Dudson, Michael McIlorum, Julian Bousquet, Matt Whitley, Mike McMeeken, Benjamin Garcia.

Interchanges: Arthur Mourgue, Mickael Goudemand, Joel Tomkins, Sam Kasiano.

Tries: Mike McMeeken (50)

Conversions: James Maloney (1 from 1)

Penalties: James Maloney (2 from 2)

Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby.

Tries: Kevin Naiqama (13, 66)

Conversions: Lachlan Coote (1 from 2)

Penalties: Lachlan Coote (1 from 1)

Sin Bin: Tommy Makinson (46)

HT: 4-6

FT: 10-12

Attendance: 45,177

Club Sat 16 Oct 21

Knowles charged with Grade A but free to play at Old Trafford

Saints Line up

1	Lachlan Coote
2	Tommy Makinson
3	Kevin Naiqama
4	Mark Percival
5	Regan Grace
6	Jonny Lomax
7	Lewis Dodd
8	Alex Walmsley
	James Roby
10	Matty Lees
11	Sione Mata’utia
12	Joe Batchelor
13	Morgan Knowles
15	Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18	Kyle Amor
17	Agnatius Paasi
1	Jack Welsby

Catalans Dragons Line up

1	Sam Tomkins
2	Tom Davies
3	Samisoni Langi
4	Dean Whare
5	Fouad Yaha
6	James Maloney
7	Josh Drinkwater
8	Gil Dudson
9	Micky McIlorum
10	Julian Bousquet
11	Matt Whitley
12	Mike Mcmeeken
13	Benjamin Garcia
14	Arthur Mourgue
15	Mickael Goudemand
16	Joel Tomkins
17	Sam Kasiano

Last updated 9 Oct 21 20:06:59

𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏!

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄-𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐓!!!!! 🏆🏆🏆

#COYS

80'

FT: 🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

WE ARE 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ONCE AGAIN!!!

#COYS

79'

Great defence forces the Dragons in touch!

78'

Catalans survive as we are penalised for crossing…

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

76'

Davies knocks on in his own half!!! Can we wrap this up…?

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

75'

Great defence from Saints forces Tomkins to knock on!! 5 to go….

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

74'

The Dragons force another goal-line drop out as Percival can’t grasp the high bomb…6 to go!

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

73'

The Dragons kick goes up and the ball is touched dead. A goal line drop out and we must defend again here…

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

72'

Big Al loses the ball in the tackle. The Dragons have it on half way! 8 to go…

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

69'

Walmsley is caught by McMeeken and we win a penalty. Coooote kicks for touch and we come again!

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

68'

Matty Lees is on for Naiqama as Welsby drops into centre. COYS!

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

68'

Goal

Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooooooooooote kicks the two and we lead in the #GrandFinal!! Naiqama is off for a head assessment after scoring that try…

🐲 Catalans 10-12 Saints 😇

66'

Try

Kevin Naiqama for Saints

KEVYYYYYY AT THE DOUBLE!!! Lomax’s grubber kick is grounded by Naiqama who grabs his second try of the game and we are back level! Kick to come…

🐲 Catalans 10-10 Saints 😇

66'

This time we do win a penalty, to the cheers of the Saints fans, as Cooote is caught late. He kicks for touch and we have a chance!

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

64'

We push forward, but the Dragons force the knock on as we try to open them up on the last tackle…

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

62'

Batchelor bursts down the right flank, but his offload back inside is straight into the hands of Tomkins.

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

60'

Alex Walmsley is back on for Paasi. Can Big Al inspire us in this second half?

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

56'

We are back up to our full compliment as Makinson returns to the field following his sin binning. Morgan Knowles is also on for LMS.

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

Keep going, boys!

52'

Goal

James Maloney for Catalans Dragons

Maloney kicks the two.

🐲 Catalans 10-6 Saints 😇

51'

Try

Mike Mcmeeken for Catalans Dragons

The kick goes up from Drinkwater, the ball is patted back and McMeeken is there to score for Catalans. Kick to come.

🐲 Catalans 8-6 Saints 😇

49'

Drinkwater kicks a 40-20 for the Dragons…

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

48'

Great defence from Saints keep Catalans at bay before Super Jack pinches the ball and runs half the way down field. We are on the attack in the Dragons half!

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

47'

Yellow Card

Tommy Makinson for Saints

The Dragons kick for the far touchline towards Yaha, but Makinson comes flying across to save a certain try. As a result Makinson has been sent to the bin for a high tackle.

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

45'

The Dragons are awarded another penalty and come forward on half way…

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

43'

Mata’utia is penalised for a high shot on Davies. Catalans kick for touch, but it does not find touch and we have it back! Is that going to be key?

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

41'

We are back underway here at Old Trafford! A BIG 40 minutes ahead!

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

40'

HT: 🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

We take a narrow lead into the break after a try from Naiqama and a penalty from Cooote!

#COYS

39'

The ball finds it way to Grace out wide, but he is forced into touch as we approach the half time hooter.

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

39'

Kasiano catches Roby high and Cooote opts to kick for touch. Can we grab another try before the break?

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

38'

Both sides are making errors as we get it back once again….

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

37'

Morgan Knowles makes way for Jack Welsby. The Dragons have it back after a Saints knock on, on half way. Time to defend again, boys!

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

36'

Coooote is this time tackled in the air and we win a penalty in our own half. Four minutes until the break!

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

35'

LMS is adjudged to have taken Tomkins out in the air. The big screen seems to show he pulled out of the tackle before contact, but Catalans have the penalty as we approach the break.

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

32'

Matty Lees makes way for Iggy Paasi! Go get em’ Iggy!

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

Naiqama gets it down for our first Try of the evening earlier!

28'

Goal

James Maloney for Catalans Dragons

The Dragons opt to take the two. Maloney converts. LMS is on for Big Al in our first change…

🐲 Catalans 4-6 Saints 😇

27'

Big Al hits Kasiano to win the ball back but the Dragons then get it straight back off Percival. Catalans then get a set-restart. Can we see this out?

🐲 Catalans 2-6 Saints 😇

24'

The Dragons win the penalty and we must defend here…

🐲 Catalans 2-6 Saints 😇

22'

Goal

Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooooooote slots over the two to extend our lead!

🐲 Catalans 2-6 Saints 😇

21'

Lomax is clattered high and Coote will go for the two…

🐲 Catalans 2-4 Saints 😇

20'

We see it out well and Mata’utia then wins us a penalty. A chance here to extend our lead!

🐲 Catalans 2-4 Saints 😇

15'

Coooote misses his kick but we lead in the #GrandFinal!

🐲 Catalans 2-4 Saints 😇

14'

Try

Kevin Naiqama for Saints

KEVVYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! On his farewell Saints appearance Naiqama goes over in the corner after a short ball from Cooooote! Get in!!!

🐲 Catalans 2-4 Saints 😇

13'

The Dragons move the ball to the right, but Davies can’t pick up Tomkins’ quick pass and knocks on. We come forward and win a penalty as this time Catalans are penalised for offside!

🐲 Catalans 2-0 Saints 😇

12'

Tomkins and Batchelor battle for a loose ball. The ball comes out and the referee gives a penalty to Catalans. They kick for touch and we must defend…

🐲 Catalans 2-0 Saints 😇

Goal

James Maloney for Catalans Dragons

Saints are caught offside and James Maloney kicks the Dragons ahead.

🐲 Catalans 2-0 Saints 😇

Saints continue to push as we attack towards our own fans, but Naiqama is tackled and loses the ball. He is up after a bit of treatment and looks OK!

🐲 Catalans 0-0 Saints 😇

Great defence from Saints keep the Dragons in their own half. We have it back as the ball is fed wide to Makinson but he is just short of the line. What a start!

🐲 Catalans 0-0 Saints 😇

We win a set restart through Big Al before Naiqama makes a break. Makinson is then held up short before Lomax’s kick is dealt with by Tomkins.

🐲 Catalans 0-0 Saints 😇