Saints fight off 12 men Leeds to progress in the Challenge Cup

Saints had to work hard to see off a depleted Leeds Rhinos who were reduced to 12 men early in the second half, as Kristian Woolf’s came away 26-18 victors, booking our place in the Betfred Challenge Cup Quarter Finals in the process.

Saints got off to the perfect start, scoring the first try of the game after three minutes. The men in red and white worked the ball out wide, and with the extra man over, Kevin Naiqama played a no look pass to Tommy Makinson who turned his man and forced his way over the line. Makinson added the conversion to make it 6-0.

Leeds, missing a number of first teamers, got themselves back into the game in the 10th minute through Mikolaj Oledzki, who drove on the last and powered his way over the Saints defence. Rhyse Martin added the extras to bring the scores level.

After withstanding some sustained pressure, Saints regained a narrow lead as Makinson kicked a penalty from distance after a high tackle on James Bentley, making it 8-6 after 31 minutes.

The first half was a good defensive battle between both sides, combined with plenty of attacking errors, but Saints held on to go into half time narrowly ahead.

Saints came out in the second half well and after Theo Fages was clattered high after he’d kicked over the top. Makinson kicked the penalty and Zane Tetevano was sent off for the challenge, giving Saints a 10-6 lead with the extra man after 45 minutes.

Saints stretched the Rhinos again three minutes later with big Agnatious Paasi causing damage in the forwards before a lovely offload from Jack Welsby sent Regan Grace could in the corner unchallenged. Makinson just missed his kick wide, meaning the score was 14-6.

Saints continued to pile on the pressure, and James Roby thought he got his first of the season after 58 minutes, but he was adjudged to have knocked on when grounding the ball.

Grace got his second of the match in the 61st minute after a brilliant cut-out pass from Jonny Lomax and Grace went over unchallenged again. Makinson converted well to make it 20-6 with less than 20 minutes to go.

Brad Dwyer got one back for Leeds with a fast break from dummie half and Rhyse Martin added the extras to make it 20-12 after 66 minutes.

Dwyer sent Saints fans nerves jangling as he went over again in the 71st minute in the same fashion as his previous try. Martin added the extras to make it 20-18 with eight minutes to go.

But Saints made sure of the result in the last minute of the game through Makinson who finished acrobatically after Naiqama offloaded. Makinson converted his own try with a wonderful kick, to make it 26-18 on the hooter and sent Saints through to the next round.

Match Summary:

Saints 13: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, James Bentley, Sione Mata’utia.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Agnatius Paasi, Lewis Dodd.

Tries: Makinson (3, 79), Grace (48, 61)

Conversions: Makinson (3)

Penalties: Makinson (31, 45)

Leeds 13: Jack Broadbent, Tom Briscoe, Alex Mellor, Alex Sutcliffe, Luke Briscoe, Rhyse Martin, Cameron Smith, Mikolaj Oledzki, Kruise Leeming, Matt Prior, Sam Walters, James Donaldson, Zane Tetevano.

Interchanges: Brad Dwyer, Jarrod O’Connor, King Vuniyayawa, Morgan Gannon.

Tries: Oledzki (10), Dwyer (65, 71)

Conversions: Martin (3)

Half time: 8-6

Full time: 26-18

Referee: Ben Thaler

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Saints Line up

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

Leeds Rhinos Line up

1Jack Broadbent
2Tom Briscoe
3Alex Mellor
4Alex Sutcliffe
5Luke Briscoe
6Rhyse Martin
7Cameron Smith
8Mikolaj Oledzki
9Kruise Leeming
10Matt Prior
11Sam Walters
12James Donaldson
13Zane Tetevano
14Brad Dwyer
15Jarrod O'Connor
16King Vuniyayawa
17Morgan Gannon

Last updated 10 Apr 21 18:58:33

How good is it to see this man back…

80'

FT: 🔴⚪ SAINTS 26-18 LEEDS 🦏

Saints progress after a hard fought victory with the second half tries coming from Grace (2) and Makinson!

79'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson does brilliant to convert his own try yet again from the touchline!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 26-18 LEEDS 🦏

79'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

MAKINSONNNNN! Grace bursts through the Leeds line and the ball is quickly moved out to Naiqama who finds Makinson who flies over to win the game for Saints!!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 24-18 LEEDS 🦏

78'

An inch perfect kick from Fages backed by a brilliant chase keeps Leeds down their own end…. Two minutes to go.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-18 LEEDS 🦏

75'

A combination of Kyle Amor and Lewis Dodd force Martin to knock on and we habve it back on half way. Five minutes to go.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-18 LEEDS 🦏

72'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin adds the two and it’s a two point ball game…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-18 LEEDS 🦏

69'
Try
Brad Dwyer for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds and Dwyer is in again from dummy half. The video referee gives it.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-16 LEEDS 🦏

📸 @regangrace5 at the double!

#COYS

67'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin converts as Lewis Dodd is on with Roby making way. The excellent Paasi also has a breather as Amor is back on.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-12 LEEDS 🦏

67'
Try
Brad Dwyer for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds are back in it as Dwyer goes over from dummy half.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-10 LEEDS 🦏

65'

Iggy is at it again! A bursting break so nearly sends LMS through. A huge man with huge power! 💥💥💥💥

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-6 LEEDS 🦏

64'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

A lovely kick from Makinson out wide extends our lead!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 20-6 LEEDS 🦏

62'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

A Lomax special! A sweeping cut-out pass out wide finds Regan for his second!! Get in!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 18-6 LEEDS 🦏

📸 IGGY has made a BIG difference this afternoon! 💥💥

#COYS

59'

Roby goes over from dummy half….It goes upstairs, but it’s given as a knock on.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 14-6 LEEDS 🦏

56'

Makinson is so nearly in for a wonder score as he breaks free down the outside, but the touch judge deems his foot was in touch. We haven’t had the luxury of a replay mind?

🔴⚪ SAINTS 14-6 LEEDS 🦏

📸 Coooooote is back!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 14-6 LEEDS 🦏

51'

Makinson’s kick this time drifts just wide!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 14-6 LEEDS 🦏

49'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

REEEEEEGZ! The ball is moved out to the left and a LOVELY one handed off-load from Welsby sends Regan in at the corner! Brilliant from Jack!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 14-6 LEEDS 🦏

47'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

And Makinson makes no mistake as his second penalty of the game flies over and our lead is now four…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 10-6 LEEDS 🦏

46'
Red Card
Zane Tetevano for Leeds Rhinos

Zane Tetevano is shown a Red card for that late shot and Leeds will play the rest of this game with 12. Makinson will go for the two.

45'

A good start to the half sees us on top early on with big Iggy showing his strength again pinching the ball in a one-on-one before Fages is caught high after the ball.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

41'

Ben Thaler blows is whistle and the second half resumes! Come on boys!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

40'

HT: 🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

An end-to-end half sees us take a narrow lead into the break thanks to a converted Makinson try and penalty.

📸 A tough battle in this opening half as we approach the break!

37'

Saints with a big chance as Bentley latches onto a Lomax pass, but he can’t find Makinson out wide and the set comes to nothing in the end…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

36'

💥💥 WOW! What a hit from Iggy Paasi who powers forward. He has left a Leeds player down – fingers crossed he is OK as that looked a heavy collision!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

📸 @Joel_Thompson12 👊👊👊👊

24'

Big Al makes way for Paasi. Saints are going to have to do this with at least an interchange less as Sione Mata’utia won’t be returning and Lees also looks to be struggling on the sideline.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

30'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Bentley wins the penalty just inside the Rhinos half and Makinson does well to add the two to edge us in front.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 8-6 LEEDS 🦏

29'

Now an error from Leeds and we have it back! It’s end to end!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

28'

Another error from Saints give Leeds the ball back as Iggy Paasi prepares to come on…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

27'

Leeds go on the short side, but can’t find the ball out wide and we will get it back. A fascinating half so far…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

26'

Bentley knocks on to give Leeds rhe ball in the Saints half, before the Rhinos are penalised for a forward pass. The visitors have just won the ball back mind and have a chance…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

20'

Great defence from Saints keeps Leeds out as the first 20 minutes flies by!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

Tommy Mak goes over for the first score of the game!

13'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Rhyse Martin converts and we are all square. Lees is off for Amor for Saints.

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-6 LEEDS 🦏

11'
Try
Mikolaj Oledzki for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds are back in it as a set down the middle results in Mikolak Oledzki powering his way over to the left of the sticks…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-4 LEEDS 🦏

9'

Sione Mata’utia takes a knock to the head and is off for a head assessment. LMS is on in his place…

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-0 LEEDS 🦏

7'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson, who continues on his kicking duties this afternoon, converts brilliantly from out wide!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 6-0 LEEDS 🦏

4'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

WHAT A START! Tommy Makinson goes over in the corner! Get in!

🔴⚪ SAINTS 4-0 LEEDS 🦏

How good is it to see this man back…

SO LACHLAN COOTE IS BACK, WHILST LEWIS DODD TAKES UP THE LAST BENCH SPOT AS AARON SMITH IS OUT WITH A HEAD KNOCK. IGGY PAASI IS ALSO BACK! Head over to our social media pages to hear from the boss on his team…

This is how your Saints will line up this afternoon…

This man signed a new deal earlier this week and he is expected to start again this afternoon!

Team news will be with you shortly after 1pm today…

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We are gutted you won’t be with us today, packing out that West terrace, but we know you will be cheering us on from home! Coverage on BBC1 starts from 2pm!

Welcome to our Totally Wicked Stadium home for today’s Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round tie as we host Leeds Rhinos. Kick off is 2:30pm and the game is live on BBC1!