12-MAN SAINTS BEATEN IN CHALLENGE CUP REMATCH

Saints’ unbeaten run came to an end on Thursday evening as Castleford avenged their loss in the Challenge Cup final with a 20-10 victory at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Despite Castleford having the better field position courtesy of two early penalties in the opening ten minutes, it was Saints who had the biggest chance of the game. Tommy Makinson tapped a quick penalty and earned  big yards downfield before getting tackled.  Saints were unable to take advantage of that break though, as Kevin Naiqama was tackled an inch away from the try-line. 0-0 it was after the opening 15  minutes.

Saints did take a 20th minute lead though. After Alex Walmsley was held up by the Cas defence, we threw the ball from right to left from under the sticks, and it ended with Jack Welsby flying over in the left corner after collecting a cut-out pass from Lachlan Coote. Our number one was unable to add the extra two though, so we led 4-0 at the midpoint of the first half.

The visitors responded four minutes before the break. Greg Eden strolled in down the Saints right side after a succession of Saints errors and Castleford penalties on the Saints line. Former Saint Danny Richardson added the conversion to give the Tigers a 6-4 half-time lead at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Saints started the second half better. Joe Batchelor dragged Niall Evalds out of play ten metres out from the Castleford line, but Saints were held up and then unable to take advantage of the good field position after another error – which was beginning to be the story of the night.

Richardson grabbed the first points of the second half for the Tigers after the returning James Bentley was penalised for a late hit on Gareth O’Brien, 8-4 the visitors led. The visitors then extended that lead further as Oliver Holmes stepped his way through to score to the left of the sticks. Richardson added the extras to make it 14-4.

Bentley was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for a tackle before Cas’ Peter Mata’utia followed him to the bin for his reaction as things began to heat up. Tommy Makinson was then sent off two minutes later for an apparent late shot on Niall Evalds.

But in typical never say die Saints attitude, it was the Saints who found the next try. Walmsley took a quick penalty close to the line and powered his way over to give Saints a lifeline. Coote added the extras, 14-10.

Kristian Woolf’s men continued to push for the winner, but it was the Tigers who sealed their first win at St Helens for 30 years with two minutes to go as Eden intercepted a Coote pass and ran the length of the field for his second. Richardson added the extras to make the final score 20-10 to the Castleford Tigers.

Saints face Wigan next in the Derby next Friday.

Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, Joe Batchelor, Sione Mata’utia.

Interchanges: James Bentley, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi.

Tries: Jack Welsby (20), Alex Walmsley (67)

Conversions: Lachlan Coote (1 from 2)

Sin Bin: James Bentley (63)

Send off: Tommy Makinson (64)

Castleford Tigers Team: Niall Evalds, Derrell Olpherts, Peter Mata’utia, Jordan Turner, Greg Eden, Danny Richardson, Gareth O’Brien, Suaia Matagi, Paul McShane, Grant Millington, Oliver Holmes, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Daniel Smith.

Interchanges: Liam Watts, Cheyse Blair, George Griffin, Tyla Hepi.

Tries: Greg Eden (36, 79), Oliver Holmes (52)

Conversions: Danny Richardson (3 from 3)

Penalties: Danny Richardson (1 from 1)

Sin Bin: Peter Mata’utia (63)

HT: 4-6

FT: 10-20

 

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Saints Line up

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

Castleford Tigers Line up

1 Niall Evalds
2 Derrell Olpherts
3 Peter Mata’utia
4 Jordan Turner
5 Greg Eden
6 Danny Richardson
7 Gareth O’Brien
8 Suaia Matagi
9 Paul McShane
10 Grant Millington
11 Oliver Holmes
12 Jesse Sene-Lefao
13 Daniel Smith
14 Liam Watts
15 Cheyse Blair
16 George Griffin
17 Tyla Hepi

Last updated 12 Aug 21 21:46:30

Thanks for joining us. Next up? The Derby on Friday!

80'

FT: 🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-20 TIGERS 🐯

It’s defeat for Saints.

79'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Castleford Tigers

Richardson kicks the two from the touchline.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-20 TIGERS 🐯

79'
Try
Greg Eden for Castleford Tigers

Saints move the ball to the right, but Coote’s pass is stolen by Eden and he runs the length of the field to score.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-18 TIGERS 🐯

78'

Bentley one on one steal!!!! 20 metres out!!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

76'

Dodd finds Bentley on the last, he goes for the line, but is short and Cas have it back. Four to go…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

76'

Another penalty this time as Thompson is caught high…Another set in the Cas 10…How are the nerves?

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

75'

We have it in the Cas 20….can we make it count?

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

73'

Bentley for Saints and Mata’utia for Cas are back on…Seven to go!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

Keep going lads!!

70'

A big chance goes begging as Mata’utia knocks on in the first tackle…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

70'

Percival wins a penalty now in front of the Cas sticks…The pressure is building…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

69'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooooote adds the two and we trail by four with 12 to go…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-14 TIGERS 🐯

68'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

GAME ONNNNNN! Walmsley takes a quick tap and powers his way over!!! Get in!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-14 TIGERS 🐯

64'
Red Card
Tommy Makinson for Saints

And now Makinson has been sent off for his challenge on Evalds…

63'
Yellow Card
Peter Mata’utia for Castleford Tigers

And so has Peter Mata’utia for his reaction to the Bentley tackle…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-14 TIGERS 🐯

Yellow Card
James Bentley for Saints

Bentley has been sent to the bin.

60'

Errors from both sides. This time Cas lose the ball and now we have it back on half way…Scrappy.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-14 TIGERS 🐯

58'

Saints this time win back-to-back restarts and a penalty. Cooote finds touch and we have another set in the Cas, but Amor knocks on with the first carry.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-14 TIGERS 🐯

54'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Castleford Tigers

Richardson kicks the two.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-14 TIGERS 🐯

53'
Try
Oliver Holmes for Castleford Tigers

Holmes breaks through Coote’s tackle to scores for Cas.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-12 TIGERS 🐯

50'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Castleford Tigers

Bentley is adjudged to have caught the kicker late and Cas win a penalty….Richardson takes the two.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-8 TIGERS 🐯

48'

Brilliant defence from Saints keeps Olpherts out before Mata’utia is then held up and we force the turnover…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

47'

Cas defend it well before at the other end, before Welsby knocks on coming out of his own half. He did look to be caught high mind…The Tigers with a set in the Saints 20…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

45'

Batchelor forces Eden in touch and we have a set of six in the Tigers 10…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

41'

We are back off and underway…Come on boys!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

40'

HT: 🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

Welsby put us ahead, but the Tigers responded through Eden and it’s they who lead by two at the break.

#COYS

38'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Castleford Tigers

Richardson, from the touchline, kicks the two.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-6 TIGERS 🐯

37'
Try
Greg Eden for Castleford Tigers

Cas take advantage as Eden goes over in the corner.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-4 TIGERS 🐯

36'

The Tigers win three successive set-restarts and now a penalty on the Saints line as we are given a team warning…Can we keep the Tigers at bay?

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

33'

Bentley is on for his long-awaited return. Sione Mata’utia makes way. We still lead by that Welsby try as Dodd’s kick drifts out on the full…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

28'

A great burst and offload from Percival sets Dodd away, he skips through before he is brought down and then caught high. Penalty to Saints as IGGY Paasi is on!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

26'

Big Al makes way and LMS is on in his place…Go get em’ Louie!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

22'

Coooooote’s kick from the touchline misses, but we lead early!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

20'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

JACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! The ball is moved to the left, through the hands of Dodd and then Coooote who finds ‘Super Jack’ with a cut-out pass and he flies over, acrobatically, in the corner!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 TIGERS 🐯

19'

The Tigers knock on in their own half and we have a set of six 15 meters out…COYS!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

Both defences are on top!

A bruising start so far!

13'

Roby looks for a gap from dummy half, but Ben Thaler pulls it back for crossing and now the Tigers have it back. End-to-end!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

12'

We now win a penalty for offside and Makinson takes it quickly, bursting up the field. Last man Evalds takes him down before Peter Mata’utia knocks on and we have another chance…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

9'

But Millington, for the second time in quick succession, loses the ball close to the Saints line – this time under the challenge of captain James Roby!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

8'

The Tigers win another penalty for offside and have a chance to take an early lead…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

6'

The Tigers with a chance, 10 meters out, but Millington knocks on and we have it back.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

5'

An even start here in St Helens as both sides exchange sets early before Cas win a penalty as Saints are caught offside.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

1'

Referee Ben Thaler gets us underway here at the Totally Wicked Stadium! COYS! 🔴⚪

🔴⚪ SAINTS 0-0 TIGERS 🐯

👋 Kick off is next!

Warming up for the Tigers! 🐯

#COYS

🗣 The Bros have done their talking – now time for action! 💪

#COYS

Bentley is BACK!!

Head over to our social media accounts to hear why Regan Grace is missing today…

This is how we will line up this evening!

This man has been in strong form of late! Will he take to the field tonight and make the difference? Team news will be with you around 6:15pm…

👋 Make sure you wave hello to Boots the Mascot who is back from the dog house this evening! 🐶

Tonight’s match is a replay of the Challenge Cup Final where Saints brought that famous trophy home and earlier today we heard the news that next year’s final will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!

You can also read our FREE Matchday E-Programme. Simply scan the QR code or visit our homepage to read words from the boss, new signing Will Hopoate and much more! Make sure you click all the links too!

Warm up for the game with all your pre-match info including, turnstile opening times, squad news, pre-match chatter, match officials and much more! Just head over to our homepage to read all about it!

Hello and welcome back to the Totally Wicked Stadium for this evening’s Betfred Super League clash against Castleford Tigers with kick off at 7:45pm!

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