SAINTS SOUNDLY BEATEN IN SALFORD

A below-par St Helens were convincingly beaten in Salford after falling to a 44-12 defeat at the AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday.

Much like the first period last week, Saints started with a few too many errors with ball in hand. Salford on two occasions making yardage after breaks from Sitaleki Akauola and then Joe Burgess, but Saints scrambled well in defence to keep the scores level.

Salford made Saints pay on 12 minutes after a penalty for a high shot gave them field position and they moved the ball from right to left with Akauola powering his way over two Saints defenders to score. Sneyd converted. 6-0 the hosts led.

The restart was then caught by Ken Sio with his foot in touch and the hosts had the ball back gain inside our own half. Brodie Croft moved the ball out to the left and Burgess punished Saints as he flew over in the corner. Sneyd missed the kick. 10-0 Salford.

Salford were in again just three minutes later as Burgess again broke free down the left and fed the supporting Sarginson who beat off the challenge of Jonny Lomax to go over. Sneyd converted. 16-0.

Curtis Sironen was then forced off with a bicep injury and the hosts were in again on 27 minutes after a cut out pass found Ken Sio in space out wide, he broke downfield and fed the supporting Watkins on his inside who went over. Sneyd missed the two. 20-0.

That wasn’t the end of the first half scoring as Burgess grabbed his second of the half. Salford won the penalty and Lafai found the speedy winger who raced past Bennison and Hurrell to touch down. Sneyd’s kick struck the post and went over. 26-0 Salford led.

Sneyd then had a on the hooter penalty from the Saints 40 fall just short, but it was an impressive showing from the hosts and Saints had much work to do in the second half.

Salford came out for the second half where they left off the first as Greg Burke powered over three Saints defenders to score from close range after 53 minutes. Sneyd added the two from right in front. 32-0.

Saints finally got on the scoreboard after Jack Welsby recieved the ball from the scrum, dummied and broke clear. He was brought down inches before the line, but reached out to get the ball down. With Jonny Lomax off the field for a head assessment, Joey Lussick converted. 32-6.

Salford hit straight back after they won successive penalties in the Saints half. Burgess and Lafai kept the ball alive and fed the ball to the other flank for Croft to feed Watkins for his second. Sneyd added the two. 38-6.

Brodie Croft was the next to go over after Lafai made a break down field, beating off numerous Saints defenders to then feed the Salford number six who went beat off the challenge of Ben Davies to go over. Sneyd converted from right in front. 44-6.

There was time for a late Saints consolation as Alex Walmsley reached out to touch down over the top of three Salford defenders. Our afternoon got worse on the hooter as Grace went down un-apposed holding his leg and was helped off the field.

It was an afternoon to forget in Salford.

Match Summary

Salford Team: Dean Cross, Ken Sio, Dan Sarginson, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Sitaleki Akauola, Andy Ackers, Jack Ormondroyd, Elijah Taylor, Kallum Watkins, Alex Gerrard.

Interchanges: Chris Atkin, Greg Burke, Sam Luckley, Ryan Lannon.

Tries: Akauola (12), Burgess (16, 35), Sarginson (19), Watkins (27, 64), Burke (53).

Conversions: Sneyd (5 from 7)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jonathan Bennison, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Regan Grace, James Roby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, James Bell.

Tries: Welsby (58), Walmsley (77)

Conversions: Lussick (1 from 1), Bennison (1 from 1).

HT: 26-0

FT: 44-12

Attendance: TBC

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
5 Jonathan Bennison
23 Konrad Hurrell
21 Ben Davies
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
James Roby
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Joey Lussick
10 Matty Lees
12 Joe Batchelor
16 Curtis Sironen
13 Morgan Knowles
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
17 Agnatius Paasi
18 Jake Wingfield
15 James Bell

Salford Red Devils Line up

1Deon Cross
2Ken Sio
3Dan Sarginson
4Tim Lafai
5Joe Burgess
6Brodie Croft
7Marc Sneyd
8Sitaleki Akauola
9Andy Ackers
10Jack Ormondroyd
11Elijah Taylor
12Kallum Watkins
13Alex Gerrard
14Chris Atkin
15Greg Burke
16Sam Luckley
17Ryan Lannon

Last updated 31 Jul 22 16:53:23

80'

FT: 👹 Salford 44-12 Saints ⚫🧊

An afternoon to forget in Salford.

79'

That didn’t look good. Grace falls to the ground un-opposed holding his knee…He is helped off the field.

👹 Salford 44-12 Saints ⚫🧊

78'
Goal
Jonathan Bennison for Saints

Bennison this time converts.

👹 Salford 44-12 Saints ⚫🧊

77'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

Big Al reaches over to score a late consolation.

👹 Salford 44-10 Saints ⚫🧊

75'

Correction – Knowles wins the penalty…

👹 Salford 44-6 Saints ⚫🧊

74'

Knowles knocks on at he play the ball.

👹 Salford 44-6 Saints ⚫🧊

73'

It’s Lomax who feeds Welsby, but his grubber is into the hands of a Salford player.

👹 Salford 44-6 Saints ⚫🧊

71'

Lomax is back on for Saints.

👹 Salford 44-6 Saints ⚫🧊

70'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two from right in front.

👹 Salford 44-6 Saints ⚫🧊

69'
Try
Brodie Croft for Salford Red Devils

Brodie Croft this time goes over after a break from Lafai.

👹 Salford 42-6 Saints ⚫🧊

65'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two from the touchline.

👹 Salford 38-6 Saints ⚫🧊

64'
Try
Kallum Watkins for Salford Red Devils

Watkins goes over for his second of the game.

👹 Salford 36-6 Saints ⚫🧊

64'

Salford win the penalty in our 20 and will come forward again…

👹 Salford 32-6 Saints ⚫🧊

63'

Walmsley and Lees are back on for LMS and Paasi…

👹 Salford 32-6 Saints ⚫🧊

59'
Goal
Joey Lussick for Saints

Lussick is on kicking duties with Lomax not on the field. He adds the two.

👹 Salford 32-6 Saints ⚫🧊

58'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

YES! Straight from the scrum Welsby breaks clear, cuts back inside, is brought down, but then gets it down!

👹 Salford 32-4 Saints ⚫🧊

57'

The Red Devils move the ball to our left, but knock on in the process and we have it back…

👹 Salford 32-0 Saints ⚫🧊

55'

Lomax has left the field for a head assessment. Knowles is back on…

👹 Salford 32-0 Saints ⚫🧊

54'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two from right in front.

👹 Salford 32-0 Saints ⚫🧊

53'
Try
Greg Burke for Salford Red Devils

Salford score through Burke.

👹 Salford 30-0 Saints ⚫🧊

51'

Salford win the penalty for a high shot and then win a set restart in our 20…

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

49'

Welsby goes for a kick over the top, but it’s far too strong and it runs dead.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

47'

We look like we could score in the corner as Lomax finds Welsby who taps the ball on to Bennison but he can’t keep hold and the ball goes into touch.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

45'

Both sides have exchanged early sets before Sneyd drops the ball when trying to pass…

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

41'

Saints get us back underway in this second period…

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

40'

HT: 👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

A big second half needed!

#COYS

39'

Salford win the penalty just inside the Saints half on the 40 meter line and Sneyd goes for the two, but it’s short.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

39'

Wingfield knocks on at the play the ball.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

38'

Salford knock on. We have it back on half way…Two to go before the break.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

37'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd’s kick hits the sticks and goes over.

👹 Salford 26-0 Saints ⚫🧊

35'
Try
Joe Burgess for Salford Red Devils

Burgess is in again for Salford down our right side. Kick to come.

👹 Salford 24-0 Saints ⚫🧊

34'

Knowles is off as Jake Wingfield comes on. Six to go until the break…

👹 Salford 20-0 Saints ⚫🧊

32'

This time Saints see the Salford set out well as Bennison comes away with it…

👹 Salford 20-0 Saints ⚫🧊

29'

Sneyd’s kick drifts wide. LMS and Paasi are on for Walmsley and Lees.

👹 Salford 20-0 Saints ⚫🧊

27'
Try
Kallum Watkins for Salford Red Devils

Watkins goes over this time as the cut out pass finds Sio who feeds the former Leeds man on his inside.

👹 Salford 20-0 Saints ⚫🧊

26'

We get it back and come forward, but Welsby slips into the tackle on the last and it comes to nothing.

👹 Salford 16-0 Saints ⚫🧊

24'

A Salford hand is in the way of the pass and we have another set on the Salford line, but from the scrum Grace can’t keep hold of Welsby’s pass.

👹 Salford 16-0 Saints ⚫🧊

21'

Curtis Sironen is off with James Bell on in his place…And straight away we get the ball back after a Salford error. Chance here…

👹 Salford 16-0 Saints ⚫🧊

20'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two.

👹 Salford 16-0 Saints ⚫🧊

19'
Try
Dan Sarginson for Salford Red Devils

Salford score again as Burgess breaks away and feeds Sarginson to score.

👹 Salford 14-0 Saints ⚫🧊

17'

Sneyd’s touchline conversion attempt this time drifts wide.

👹 Salford 10-0 Saints ⚫🧊

16'
Try
Joe Burgess for Salford Red Devils

Burgess scores in the corner.

👹 Salford 10-0 Saints ⚫🧊

14'

The restart is caught by the Salford man with his foot in touch and the hosts will come again inside our own half…

👹 Salford 6-0 Saints ⚫🧊

13'
Goal
Marc Sneyd for Salford Red Devils

Sneyd adds the two.

👹 Salford 6-0 Saints ⚫🧊

12'
Try
Sitaleki Akauola for Salford Red Devils

Akauola goes over for Salford to the left of the sticks.

👹 Salford 4-0 Saints ⚫🧊

11'

Salford this time win the penalty for a high shot on Burgess and we must defend a set of six inside our own half.

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

9'

Sneyd goes for the ick over the top towards Burgess, but the ball finds touch and we will have it back in our own half.

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

8'

Again we move the ball to the right, but Batchelor this time can’t keep hold of Lomax’s pass. Burgess races away, but Welsby is there on the cover.

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

7'

Lussick does well to pick up Sneyd’s grubber after a break from Lafai before we win the penalty for a Salford offside.

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

6'

We move the ball to the right, but Sironen can’t keep hold of Lomax’s ball and Salford have it back. A scrappy start…

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

5'

Matty Lees is caught high and we win the penalty. Lussick kicks for touch and the first real opportunity comes our way with a set in the Salford half…

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

4'

Walmsley on the charge for Saints, but he loses the ball in contact and the hosts have it on half way…

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

2'

Salford with the first break up field as Akauola goes through gap in the Saints defence, but his pass is dropped by his supporting Salford teammate and we have it back…

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

1'

We are off and underway here in sunny Salford!

👹 Salford 0-0 Saints ⚫🧊

Kick off is next…

The boys are out for warm up!

Head over to our social media channels to hear a pre-match word from the boss…

Let’s go!

👋 🧢

Welcome to Salford, Saints! 👋

Your Saints line up for this afternoon on sees Morgan Knowles return and Joey Lussick face his former club…

Team news up next!

The AJ Bell Stadium…

Our home for the afternoon…

It’s Curtis Sironen’s Birthday! Let’s celebrate his day with a WIN!

A reminder of our 21 man squad….Morgan Knowles returns after suspension! Team news will be with at 1:30pm…

Make sure you read our match preview story available in our news section…

Hello and welcome to our matchday blog ahead of Saints trip to the AJ Bell Stadium to face Salford (3pm kick off). It’s not televised, but we will have updates for you right here!

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