SAINTS KICK OFF TITLE DEFENCE WITH HARD FOUGHT VICTORY OVER SALFORD

Kristian Woolf’s men kicked off the new 2021 Betfred Super League season with a 29-6 victory over Salford at Emerald Headingley Stadium.

Saints came out of the traps flying and went ahead after just two minutes through Tommy Makinson. Saints capitalised on a Salford error and on the last tackle Theo Fages kicked for the corner; Makinson won it in the air and got the ball down. He converted brilliantly from the touchline to give Saints an early 6-0 lead.

Mark Percival looked to have doubled Saints’ lead 13 minutes later, but Jonny Lomax’ pass was deemed forward as he looked to feed Percival on his long awaited return.

Lomax thought he’d scored himself in the 18th minute as he went over three Salford players to dart over, but his try was chalked off for a double movement.

Makinson kicked a penalty on 27 minutes after Salford were penalised for offside to make it 8-0, before Regan Grace scored an acrobatic try in the left corner after Saints won the ball back high  up the field. Makinson narrowly missed the conversion from the touchline, meaning the score remained 12-0.

Jack Welsby then sent us in at the break 13 points ahead as he kicked a drop goal on the hooter – something he is quite renowned for…

Iggy Paasi was forced off early in the second half after a nasty collision with Pauli Pauli and he subsequently failed his head assessment meaning he will sit out the game against Hull KR on Thursday, before Joel Thompson was just held up on the line as he tried to extend Saints’ lead.

Salford got one back in the 55th minute through Ken Sio after capitalising on a penalty. Krisnan Inu converted well from a tight angle, to make it 13-6.

But Percival wasn’t to be denied moments later as he climbed highest to grasp Fages’ high ball to touch down. Makinson added the extras to extend the lead to 19-6.

But that was to be his last action of the half as he was replaced through injury.

Kevin Naiqama was next to get over as he capitalised on a dropped catch by Inu to score in the corner after 72 minutes. Makinson narrowly missed the kick, so the score remained 23-6.

Alex Walmsley wrapped it up late on as he powered his way over numerous Salford players to go over. Makinson kicked the extras to make it a 29-6 opening game victory for Saints.

Match Summary:

Saints 13: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Kevin Naiqama, 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, Aaron Smith.

Tries: Makinson (2), Grace (34), Percival (60), Naiqama (72), Walmsley (76)

Conversions: Makinson (3)

Penalties: Makinson (27)

Drop goal: Welsby (40)

Salford 13: Dan Sarginson, Ken Sio, Kallum Watkins, Elliott Kear, Krisnan Inu, Tu’imoala Lolohea, Kevin Brown, Lee Mossop, Daniel Addy, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Harvey Livett, Ryan Lannon, Elijah Taylor.

Interchanges: Pauli Pauli, Jack Ormondroyd, Jack Wells, Dec Patton.

Tries: Sio (54)

Conversions: Inu

Half time: 13-0

Full time: 29-6

Referee: Liam Moore

Read your Matchday E-Programme

St.Helens R.F.C. is proud to have linked up with MatchDayInfo, the global providers of digital match day programmes, which will see the Saints Matchday E-Programme available to view on an App and new-look ‘GameHub’ platform.

The club turned to matchday e-programmes last season after seeing first hand the unsustainability of the traditional printed versions. The new digital first approach, which is clickable, printable, environmentally friendly and available FREE of charge for all fans, saw readership and engagement numbers increase and the Club has now taken the next step to improve that service once again thanks to MatchDay Info.

Our e-programmes will be available to view in our GameHub by clicking on the image above (or scanning the QR code) whilst they will now also be uploaded to the MatchDayInfo App ahead of each home fixture, ready for fans to read for FREE to their Android or iPhone device.

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
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
19 Aaron Smith

Salford Red Devils Line up

1Dan Sarginson
2Ken Sio
3Kallum Watkins
4Elliott Kear
5Krisnan Inu
6Tu'imoala Lolohea
7Kevin Brown
8Lee Mossop
9Daniel Addy
10Sebastine Ikahihifo
11Harvey Livett
12Ryan Lannon
13Elijah Taylor
14Pauli Pauli
15Jack Ormondroyd
16Jack Wells
17Dec Patton

Last updated 26 Mar 21 20:53:19

Thanks for joining us! Head over to our Homepage and Saints TV for all the post match reaction! We will see you on Thursday where we face Hull KR! Goodnight.

80'

FT: 😇 Saints 29-6 Salford 👹

Tries from Makinson, Grace, Percival, Naiqama and Walmsley means it’s a winning start for the Saints!

#COYS

78'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the two!

😇 Saints 29-6 Salford 👹

77'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

BIG AL POWERS HIS WAY OVER!! Kyle Amor with the assist from dummy half!

😇 Saints 27-6 Salford 👹

74'

Makinson’s touchline kick misses as LMS and Roby make way for Amor and Aaron Smith…

😇 Saints 23-6 Salford 👹

73'
Try
Kevin Naiqama for Saints

Inu knocks on under the high ball and Kevvvvy is there to pick up the loose ball and go over!

😇 Saints 23-6 Salford 👹

69'

Heading into the last 10 minutes here at Emerald Headingley…

😇 Saints 19-6 Salford 👹

🔥 @Markpercival22 gets over!

📸 @plattyphoto

😇 Saints 19-6 Salford 👹

63'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the extras to extend our lead! Big Al is back on for Amor.

😇 Saints 19-6 Salford 👹

61'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

PERCYYYYYYYY!!! Fages goes back on the shorr side with a perfectly weighted kick and Percy rises highest to touch down! Get in there!

😇 Saints 17-6 Salford 👹

56'
Goal
Krisnan Inu for Salford Red Devils

Inu converts from the touchline.

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

55'
Try
Ken Sio for Salford Red Devils

Ken Sio goes in at the corner for Salford after a long cut-out pass.

😇 Saints 13-4 Salford 👹

Matty Lees powering his way forward! 💥

📸 @plattyphoto

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

51'

Good defence from Saints sees Salford penalised for crossing and we come forward before winning a penalty!

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

50'

Salford win a penalty after Welsby knocks on the high ball. Time to defend, boys!

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

45'

JT is held up on the Salford line and the Red Devils survive…

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

44'

Kev Naiqama with a big hit this time to force the knock on and we come forward in the Salford half!

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

42'

Iggy Paasi has taken a bad looking hit after a collision with Pauli Pauli and Matty Lees is on…

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

41'

We are back underway here at Emerald Headingley! COYS!

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

40'

HT: 😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

We lead at the break after tries from Makinson and Grace plus that late Welsby drop goal.

#COYS

40'
Drop Goal
Jack Welsby for Saints

Jack Welsby with the last kick of the half (we’ve heard that before!!) kicks a one pointer on the hooter! 😉

😇 Saints 13-0 Salford 👹

IGGY on the charge!! 💥💥💥💥

📸 @plattyphoto

😇 Saints 12-0 Salford 👹

36'

Tommy’s kick from the corner just misses, but the lead is 12.

😇 Saints 12-0 Salford 👹

34'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

YESSS! Percival wins the ball high up the Salford end and Lomax finds Grace flies in at the corner!! Again it goes upstairs but this time it’s given!

😇 Saints 12-0 Salford 👹

Salford come forward, but knock on again and we come away with it as Big Al is off and Kyle Amor is on in his place…

😇 Saints 8-0 Salford 👹

27'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Salford are penalised for offside and Makinson takes the two!

😇 Saints 8-0 Salford 👹

Big Al 💥💥💥💥

📸 @plattyphoto

25'

Matty Lees and Mata’utia make way as LMS is on at 13 and Paasi is in at prop for his debut!

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

23'

Salford push and have another fresh set in the Saints 10 after Thompson fails to pick up the loose ball. But Salford knock on and we have it back as Iggy Paasi gets ready!!

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

20'

NO TRY! Lomax goes for the line on the last and gets it down! It goes upstairs, but the video referee calls a double movement. Two ruled out now for Saints…

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

Welsby forces a Salford knock on and we have a chance to extend our lead…

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

A solid start from Sione Mata’utia!

📸 @plattyphoto

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

15'

NO TRY! Percival flies over after latching onto a short ball from Lomax, but referee Liam Moore deems it forward…

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

13'

Saints have it back and after a big drive from Mata’utia, Lomax’s kick just runs dead…

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

10'

Salford looking to respond here with back-to-back sets on the Saints line…

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

3'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson converts his own try with a wonderful touchline conversion! The Saints are back!

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

2'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

WHAT A START! Fages chipped kick to the corner is touched down by Makinson! It goes upstairs and it’s given! Get in!!

😇 Saints 4-0 Salford 👹

1'

Here we go! We kick off the 2021 Betfred Super League season! 💪

#COYS

Ahead of kick off, both teams will now pause for 13 seconds and our players have chosen to take a knee to show their opposition to racism and discrimination in society and in Rugby League. TACKLE IT! 👊🏿

#ThankYou

Sione Mata’utia will make his debut for the Club today!

The boys are out for their pre-match warm up – and the ‘thank you’ shirt is out in force!

Woolf on Coote: “He had a couple of niggles over pre-season and while he is healthy this week he hasn’t got the volume of running in his legs for us to make sure he can take to the field without putting him at risk.”

The lads have arrived.

This is how your Saints will line up this evening…

Can you spot your name?

👕 Your Saints will head out in this special warm-up shirt printed with the names of our donating members as a symbol of the Club’s thanks to those fans, who were fortunate enough to be able to donate during tough times!

The pitch is in good condition! Kick off is 6pm!

Welcome to Emerald Headingley Stadium as Saints host Salford in our opening fixture of the 2021 Betfred Super League season!