Saints v Toulouse Olympique

Saints end regular season with victory over Toulouse!

St Helens will head into the playoffs with a win behind them, after a come from behind victory over Toulouse Olympique 34-16 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Saints kick off went out on the full and off the back of it Toulouse kicked to their left edge on the last tackle and kicked high, the ball was fumbled and Ilias Bergal reacted quickest to score. Former Wigan player Chris Hankinson was unable to convert, 4-0 we trailed.

Saints went close to a response in the ninth minute. Off the back of a penalty the ball was moved downfield, it was moved from left to right as Jack Welsby threw a cut-out pass to Tommy Makinson on the right wing, but he was judged to have stepped into touch as he dove for the corner.

The reply did come though, Jonny Lomax put Matty Lees through a gap and he found Joe Batchelor on his outside to stroll under the sticks. Makinson converted from in front of the sticks, 6-4 Saints led.

In a back and forth first half, it took until the 32nd minute for the third score of the game. Saints went down the short side and Jack Welsby found Curtis Sironen who broke through the Toulouse defence to stroll under the sticks and score. Makinson added the two from in front, 12-4.

Toulouse responded once again, Saints tried to kick downfield on the last but Nathan Peats charged the ball down and he raced away to pick up the ball under the Saints sticks and score. Hankinson converted, 12-10. Those were the final points of the first half, as Saints held a narrow two-point lead against the French side.

Toulouse re-took the lead early in the second half. Saints were harshly judged to have fumbled the ball in midfield, Toulouse broke down the middle and off the back of it Eloi Pelissier spotted a gap from dummy half to score. Hankinson converted, 16-12.

Saints then scored arguably their try of the season. Konrad Hurrell made a break down the right channel, he found Lomax on his inside who then passed to James Roby, he returned the pass to Lomax and he then found the supporting Lees who crossed to level the scores. Makinson converted, Saints led 18-16.

That lead was extended with thirteen minutes to go. Saints worked the ball to their right edge and Hurrell kicked ahead before winning the race to the loose ball to score in the corner. Makinson nailed the conversion from the right touchline to make it a two-score game, 24-16.

Another quickly followed. Saints worked the ball to their right edge and Makinson went over with a spectacular finish in the corner. He converted his own try from the touchline, 30-16.

The sixth and final Saints try came with three minutes to go. Jon Bennison made a great break down the middle of a tiring Toulouse defence, he then found the supporting Welsby whilst being tackled who juggled the ball before scoring under the sticks. Ben Lane took over the kicking duties and maintained the 100% record for the day, as Saints beat Toulouse Olympique 34-16 at the Totally Wicked Stadium on to end their regular season with a victory!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Ben Lane, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Agnatius Paasi, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, James Bell, Dan Norman.

Tries: Joe Batchelor (12), Curtis Sironen (32), Matty Lees (57), Konrad Hurrell (67), Tommy Makinson (72), Jack Welsby (77)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (5 from 5), Ben Lane (1 from 1)

Toulouse Olympique Team: Oliver Ashall-Bott, Ilias Bergal, Mathieu Jussaume, Guy Armitage, Benjamin Laguerre, Joseph Paulo, Chris Hankinson, Lambert Belmas, Nathan Peats, Daniel Alvaro, Dominique Peyroux, Maxime Stefani, Anhony Marion.

Interchanges: Eloi Pelissier, Joseph Bretherton, Harrison Hansen, Justin Sangare.

Tries: Ilias Bergal (2), Nathan Peats (37), Eloi Pelissier (49)

Conversions: Chris Hankinson (2 from 3)

HT: 12-10

FT: 34-16

Attendance: 13,112