Saints v Huddersfield Giants

Saints recorded a Giant 48-6 victory over Huddersfield at Magic Weekend in Newcastle this afternoon!

Saints had a good opening five minutes as they pushed downfield, but Lewis Dodd’s kick on the last tackle found the hands of  Innes Senior and the Giants were able to move away from their own line.

However, after a sloppy pass in the midfield, the video referee was called upon six minutes in. Tui Lolohea spotted a gap down the Huddersfield right edge and kicked early, the ball bouncing in favour of former Saint Kevin Naiqama who was there to put the ball down. The video referee agreed with the on-field call of try. Jake Connor converted, 0-6 Saints trailed.

The Red V thought we had a quick response ten minutes in. A high kick by Dodd was caught by Joe Batchelor and offloaded to Jack Welsby, he then found Konrad Hurrell who powered through and planted the ball down. The referee said try on-field and once again the video referee agreed. Tommy Makinson missed the conversion, 4-6 Saints trailed.

Just before the midway point of the first half, Saints took the lead. Dodd found Jonny Lomax, he fed Curtis Sironen who made a break and found the supporting Welsby, he then found the returning Mark Percival who went over under the sticks. Makinson converted, 10-6 the Saints led.

Huddersfield then lost Luke Yates to the sin bin for ten minutes, as the Giants forward was deemed to have dangerous contact on Makinson during a tackle. James Bell then made a big break downfield after being  fed by Hurrell and found the supporting Makinson, he was tackled and then on the last Welsby was wrapped up as Saints moved right.

Saints added a third try just before the break. The ball was shifted right as Welsby threw a cut-out pass to Makinson on the wing and he finished well in the corner. He converted his own try from the right touchline, 16-6 Saints led.

That was the final action of the first period. As Saints’ three first half scores gave us a ten point lead at the break in Newcastle!

It took just three second half minutes for Saints to add to our lead. A penalty moved us downfield and off the back of it Dodd played an inside pass to Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook who carried some tacklers over the try-line with him for his first try of the season. Makinson added the two, 22-6.

Another looked to have followed. Saints moved right and Lomax threw a great cut-out pass to Makinson on the wing who thought he had gone over for his second of the afternoon. The referee, however, had different ideas. He ruled a forward pass so the score remained the same.

We weren’t to be denied for much longer though. Another move from left to right ended with Lomax finding Makinson on the wing again and he dove over for his second of the afternoon. The try awarded after a video referee review. He converted again from the right touchline, 28-6.

The momentum continued. Saints again worked it from left to right and Welsby fed Hurrell who wasn’t going to be denied from close range as he burrowed under some tacklers to score. Makinson missed the conversion, 32-6 Saints led.

Saints’ seventh try followed. Some good defence forced a goal-line dropout and from it Saints went right again and Hurrell found Makinson to dive over in the corner for his third of the afternoon. He again converted his own try from the right touchline, 38-6.

Makinson had his fourth of the game with 13 minutes left. Again the ball was worked from left to right and Lomax threw another cut-out pass to Makinson on the wing and he strolled over. He was unable to convert this time around, 42-6.

The best try was saved for last. Welsby made a break down the middle and found Makinson, he then offloaded to Joey Lussick who beat Leroy Cudjoe and raced to score in the corner. Makinson added the two again, 48-6.

Tee Ritson almost scored a full lengther in the final few minutes but was stopped metres short of the line by Naiqama, but it wasn’t to matter, as Saints beat Huddersfield 48-6 at Magic Weekend in Newcastle!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, James Bell.

Interchanges: Sione Mata’utia, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi.

18th Man: Jon Bennison.

Tries: Konrad Hurrell (10, 52), Mark Percival (20), Tommy Makinson (34, 48, 58, 67), Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (43), Joey Lussick (74)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (6 from 9)

Huddersfield Giants Team: Tui Lolohea, Innes Senior, Esan Marsters, Kevin Naiqama, Jake Bibby, Jake Connor, Theo Fages, Chris Hill, Nathan Peats, Matty English, Leroy Cudjoe, Chris McQueen, Luke Yates.

Interchanges: Adam Milner, Seb Ikahihifo, Harry Rushton, Joe Greenwood.

18th Man: Harvey Livett.

Tries: Kevin Naiqama (6)

Conversions: Jake Connor (1 from 1)

Sin Bin: Luke Yates (24)

HT: 16-6

FT: 48-6