Saints book Grand Final ticket with Salford victory!

Saints will be heading to Old Trafford with a chance to make history and be the first side to win four in a row after defeating Salford Red Devils 19-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday.

A minute’s silence and the national anthem was sung pre-match and both were impeccably observed as we all paid our respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Saints dominated the opening stages, forcing a drop out for the visitors but were unable to grab an early score, Morgan Knowles going closest but he was unable to collect a Jack Welsby pass under the sticks. A few minutes later the video referee was called upon after Jonny Lomax’s kick was grounded by Joe Batchelor. The ball was grounded on the line behind the sticks though, so the try wasn’t awarded and it remained 0-0.

The first try came shortly after though. Once again it was Lomax who put a kick through on the last tackle and Batchelor again won the race to score to the right of the sticks. Tommy Makinson converted, 6-0.

That lead was quickly doubled four minutes later. Once again Lomax got the ball on the Red Devils’ line and he threw a short pass to Batchelor to spin over from close range. Makinson nailed the conversion again, 12-0.

Knowles was then sent to the sin bin after twisting a Salford players’ arm. From the restart Salford crashed over through Kallum Watkins after he broke a Saints tackle. Marc Sneyd converted, 12-6.

Batchelor went over again shortly after, but the referee judged that he had knocked the ball on over the try-line. Minutes later Saints were awarded a penalty about 45 metres to the sticks, Makinson stepped up but missed it to the right.

With the final play of the first half, Saints had the ball 30 metres out and James Roby found Lomax who slotted over a one-pointer to give us a 13-6 lead at the break.

Saints dominated the opening stages of the second half, just as they had the first. Lomax forced a knock on in Salford territory, off the back of that we then forced a dropout and then got the ball back again after another Red Devils knock on. With their last set camped on the Salford line, Matty Lees was penalised for double movement with the try-line just inches away.

Against the run of play, Salford replied on the hour. Joe Burgess made a break down their left wing and found the supporting Brierley on his inside and he sprinted away to score under the sticks. Sneyd converted, 13-12 Saints led.

Saints responded well and grabbed the crucial third try with just over ten minutes to go. Lomax with another kick through and as it looked like it was going dead, Jon Bennison raced out of nowhere to touch down! The try was awarded after a video referee review. Makinson converted to make it a two-score game, 19-12.

With just over five minutes to go Makinson was sent to the sin bin for pulling Tim Lafai back as he looked to score in the corner.

That was to be the final action of the game, as Saints booked their ticket to the Grand Final for the fourth year in a row, which will also be Kristian Woolf’s final game as Saints head coach!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Sione Mata’utia, Mark Percival, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Agnatius Paasi, James Roby, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, James Bell, Jake Wingfield.

Tries: Joe Batchelor (13, 17), Jon Bennison (69)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (3 from 3)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (0 from 1)

Drop Goal: Jonny Lomax (40)

Sin Bin: Morgan Knowles (24), Tommy Makinson (74)

Salford Red Devils Team: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Tim Lafai, Deon Cross, Joe Burgess, Chris Atkin, Marc Sneyd, Jack Ormondroyd, Andy Ackers, King Vuniyayawa, Shane Wright, Kallum Watkins, Elijah Taylor.

Interchanges: Amir Bourouh, Tyler Dupree, Alex Gerrard, Sam Luckley.

Tries: Kallum Watkins (24), Ryan Brierley (60)

Conversions: Marc Sneyd (2 from 2)

HT: 13-6

FT: 19-12

Attendance: 12357

Saints Line up

5 Jonathan Bennison
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
11 Sione Mata’utia
4 Mark Percival
1 Jack Welsby
6 Jonny Lomax
17 Agnatius Paasi
James Roby
10 Matty Lees
12 Joe Batchelor
16 Curtis Sironen
13 Morgan Knowles
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Jake Wingfield
15 James Bell

Salford Red Devils Line up

1Ryan Brierley
2Ken Sio
3Deon Cross
4Tim Lafai
5Joe Burgess
6Chris Atkin
7Marc Sneyd
8Jack Ormondroyd
9Andrew Ackers
10King Vuniyayawa
11Shane Wright
12Kallum Watkins
13Elijah Taylor
14Amir Bourouh
15Tyler Dupree
16Alex Gerrard
17Sam Luckley

Last updated 17 Sep 22 15:03:14

Our fourth Super League Grand Final in a row…. on course to potentially make 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬! ✊

#COYS

80'

𝐅𝐓: 😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 (𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧!) ✊

#COYS

78'

We restart and Salford knock on with their first set!

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

77'

Three to go and a Salford player is down with a serious looking head injury.

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

76'

Lussick is off for a HIA as the Saints defence keep Salford at bay!

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

75'
Yellow Card
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson is sent to the bin after pulling back Lafai. Five to go.

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

74'

Salford kick to the corner, Bennison is there, but he runs it out and Salford have the scrum in our 10…

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

72'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson with a BIG conversion!

😇 Saints 19-12 Salford 👹

70'
Try
Jonathan Bennison for Saints

BENNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lomax AGAIN at the heart of it with the grubber through and our young full back does not give it up! He chases it and gets it down!!!!

😇 Saints 18-12 Salford 👹

69'

Wow. Watkins slings the ball back in a tackle in his own half straight into a Saints hand and we have a BIG chance here!

😇 Saints 13-12 Salford 👹

65'

Taylor thinks he is in for Salford, but Salford are pulled up for crossing.

😇 Saints 13-12 Salford 👹

62'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two from right in front and there is one point in it. Lussick is on for Roby for Saints.

😇 Saints 13-12 Salford 👹

61'
Try
Ryan Brierley for Salford Red Devils

Sucker punch. After all that Saints pressure at the start of the half, Burgess breaks clear down the left and feeds the supporting Brierley to go over.

😇 Saints 13-10 Salford 👹

58'

Both Saints and Salford have exchanged sets and we still sit at 13-6. Paasi is back on for Knowles.

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

52'

Wingfield is on for the impressive Lees as Saints continue to come forward with high energy in defence!

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

49'

CHANCE!! Sironen keeps the ball alive, finds Lees, he reaches out for the line and gets it down!! But the referee calls a double movement.

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

48'

Sneyd catches Lomax high and we have another set on the Salford line. Can we make it pay?

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

47'

Lomax grubbers again, Mata’utia tries to pick up and get it down, but he knocks on before Sironen does touch it down. Salford then make a right mess of the scrum and knock on! CHANCE!

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

45'

The set results in Lomax again grubbering the kick through and LMS traps Taylor in-goal and we will come again!

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

44'

Lomax forces the Salford knock on in their own 30! Let’s go!

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

41'

We are back underway in the second 40!

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

40'

HT: 😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

So far, so good. 40 minutes from Old Trafford as things stand…

#COYS

39'
Drop Goal
Jonny Lomax for Saints

J-LO! Lomax with a drop goal as the hooter sounds. How big could that be?

😇 Saints 13-6 Salford 👹

39'

We come forward and it’s Lomax at the heart of it again as his grubber finds the hands of Burgess. Into the last minute of the first half…

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

35'

Knowles is back on following his 10 minutes in the bin. 5 to go.

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

Lomax pulling the strings…

32'

Saints win a penalty on half way and Makinson goes for the two, but it drifts wide.

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

30'

WOW SUPER JACK!! Welsby absolutely nails Chris Atkin with one of the best tackles you will see all year!

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

29'

BATCH for the first half hat-trick? Again the Lomax grubber and again Batchelor gets there, but referee Chris Kendall says knock on rather than TRY.

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

26'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two.

😇 Saints 12-6 Salford 👹

25'
Try
Kallum Watkins for Salford Red Devils

Salford make the numbers count as Kallum Watkins goes over.

😇 Saints 12-4 Salford 👹

24'
Yellow Card
Morgan Knowles for Saints

Morgan Knowles is sent to the sin bin.

😇 Saints 12-0 Salford 👹

Batch gets the first score of the game!

19'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson nails the two!

😇 Saints 12-0 Salford 👹

18'
Try
Joe Batchelor for Saints

BATCHHHHH AT THE DOUBLE!!!!!!!!!! We puncture through the heart of the Salford defence, make vital meters and it’s that combination again as Lomax finds Batchelor to go over!!

😇 Saints 10-0 Salford 👹

15'

MAKINSON! Hurrell down the left feeds his partner in crime, but Burgess some how gets back to tap his feet and save a certain Saints try!

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

14'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the two from right in front and we lead early in this semi-final! Ackers has failed his HIA and won’t be returning.

😇 Saints 6-0 Salford 👹

13'
Try
Joe Batchelor for Saints

BATCHHHHHHHHHH!! THIS TIME HE DOES GET IT DOWN! It is virtually the same play as moments earlier, Lomax grubbers through, Batchelor chases it down and gets it down!!! GET IN!

😇 Saints 4-0 Salford 👹

11'

NO TRY! Lomax grubbers through, Batch chases it down and gets it down! It goes upstairs, but replays show Batchelor ground the ball on the goal-line. No TRY.

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

8'

Mata’utia tries to find Percival on his left, but it doesn’t come off and Salford survive the early Saints pressure.

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

6'

Six again in Saints favour. CHANCE!

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

4'

Welsby tries to find Knowles, but he can’t keep hold and we turn it over on Salford’s line.

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

3'

Saints are fired up! Batchelor, Knowles and Welsby force Brierley in his own goal and we will come again!

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

2'

A brilliant first set from Saints as we Salford fail to get into our half with their first attack. Both sets of supporters are up for this one! Salford’s Andy Ackers is off or a HIA.

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

1'

Old Trafford awaits! Let’s GO!!

😇 Saints 0-0 Salford 👹

A minute’s silence is impeccably observed and before the national anthem is then sung as we remember Queen Elizabeth II. 🖤

Let’s go!

Semi Final focussed!

It is this man’s final game at the Totally Wicked Stadium this afternoon. Head over to our social media accounts to hear from him now.

How good is it to have these two back? 🔙

#COYS

Your Saints line up tasked with booking our spot at Old Trafford again! 🔐

#COYS

Both teams will wear black armbands and we ask everyone present to observe a minute’s silence. An Opera singer will then sing the national anthem as we pay our respects and remember the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

A reminder of Kristian Woolf’s 21 man squad which sees the return of Mark Percival and Sione Mata’utia. Will the pair start today? Team news will be with us at 11.30am!

This man will lead Saints out for the final time at Home today. Can we send him to a third Grand Final and a fourth in a row?

You can also enjoy our last Match E-Programme of 2022. Download it around the stadium or via our homepage FREE of charge!

Leeds Rhinos beat Wigan Warriors last night and lie in waiting in the Grand Final at Old Trafford. Read our match preview story on our website for everything you need to know!

Hello and welcome to our live match blog ahead of today’s Super League semi-final against Salford. Kick off is 1pm here at the Totally Wicked Stadium and the game is live on Channel 4 and Sky Sports.