Saints beat Halifax Panthers 6-26 at The MBi Shay Stadium on Friday evening over in West Yorkshire!

The video referee was called upon seven minutes in. Alex Walmsley offloaded the ball to James Bell who picked it up and drove over the try-line. However, despite the on-field call of try, the video referee ruled no try so the scores remained level.

Seconds later, another decision went upstairs. Joey Lussick went for one from dummy half as he tried to burrow under some defenders, but it was sent upstairs as a no try. The video referee disagreed with the referee again, awarding Lussick the try to give the visitors an early lead in the left corner. Tommy Makinson was unable to convert, 0-4 Saints led.

The Red V had a great chance to increase that lead 14 minutes in. Jonny Lomax found Sione Mata’utia who broke a tackle and looked to fall over the try-line, but some good last ditch defending from the Panthers knocked the ball loose, and they received the ball back on their own line.

The video referee was called into action again in the 25th minute. Saints were awarded a penalty and marched downfield, off the back of it, try-scorer Lussick fed Jake Wingfield the ball and he crashed over from close range for his first Saints try. The referee’s on-field decision of try was confirmed. Makinson added the two from in front of the sticks, 0-10 Saints led.

Another followed two minutes later. Off the back of a break downfield from the returning Morgan Knowles, Saints moved the ball right and Jack Welsby threw a cut-out pass to Makinson on the wing and he cut inside before planting the ball over the line. Makinson added the two, 0-16.

The Panthers’ best chance came as we entered the final ten minutes of the first period. An early kick by Louis Jouffret landed in acres of space, but the ball bounced in Saints’ favour which allowed Ben Davies to complete a tackle, before the referee ruled a knock on following the play the ball.

Halifax thought they had grabbed a score just before the break. A move down their right edge saw James Saltonstall kick inside on the last, the ball bounced favourably this time which allowed James Woodburn-Hall to grab it and head towards the try-line. The video referee agreed with the on-field referee’s decision of no try though, 0-16 the score remained at the break.

It took just four second half minutes for try number four for the Saints. Welsby ran across the Panthers line from left to right and threw a dummy to stroll over in the right corner. Makinson missed the conversion, 0-20 the Red V led.

Halifax had a great chance to reduce the deficit close to the mid-point of the second half. Ben Tibbs tried to find Lachlan Walmsley on their left edge but the pass was too low and bobbled into touch with just grass ahead of the Fax winger as Saints tried to scramble. Another chance followed with less than 16 minutes to play. A cut-out pass found Walmsley on the left wing but he was held up over the try-line, the referee had already dragged the play back though for a forward pass.

Try number five came 12 minutes from time. Saints camped of the Panthers line and, just like he did in the first half, Lussick spotted a gap from dummy half and pounced to grab his second try from close range. Makinson converted, 0-26 Saints led.

Halifax did grab a response with six minutes to go. A break down the middle by Ryan Lannon saw him find the supporting Jacob Fairbank on his inside who scored under the sticks. Jouffret converted, 6-26 Saints led.

Saints were reduced to twelve as we entered the final minute, as Knowles was sent off for a high tackle.

Saints progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a 6-26 victory over Halifax Panthers over in West Yorkshire!

Match Summary

Halifax Panthers Team: James Woodburn-Hall, Lachlan Walmsley, Ben Tibbs, Zack McComb, James Saltonstall, Louis Jouffret, Joe Keyes, Will Calcott, Brandon Moore, Dan Murray, Ryan Lannon, Matty Gee, Jacob Fairbank.

Interchanges: Tom Inman, Eribe Doro, Adam Tangata, Kevin Larroyer.

18th Man: Jake Maizen.

Tries: Ryan Lannon (74)

Conversions: Louis Jouffret (1 from 1)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Will Hopoate, Ben Davies, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Morgan Knowles, Sione Mata’utia, Joe Batchelor, James Bell.

Interchanges: Jon Bennison, Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.

18th Man: Sam Royle.

Tries: Joey Lussick (8, 68), Jake Wingfield (25), Tommy Makinson (27), Jack Welsby (44)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (3 from 5)

Red Card: Morgan Knowles (79)

HT: 0-16

FT: 6-26

Attendance: 4,693

 

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Will Hopoate
21 Ben Davies
25 Tee Ritson
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Joey Lussick
13 Morgan Knowles
11 Sione Mata’utia
12 Joe Batchelor
15 James Bell
5 Jonathan Bennison
17 Agnatius Paasi
18 Jake Wingfield
20 George Delaney

Halifax Panthers Line up

1James Woodburn-Hall
2Lachlan Walmsley
4Ben Tibbs
3Zack McComb
5James Saltonstall
6Louis Jouffret
7Joe Keyes
16Will Calcott
9Brandon Moore
10Dan Murray
19Ryan Lannon
12Matty Gee
13Jacob Fairbank
8Adam Tangata
20Tom Inman
21Eribe Doro
31Kevin Laroyer

Last updated 19 May 23 21:30:35

79'
Red Card
Morgan Knowles for Saints

Morgan Knowles is shown a red for a high tackle.

🐾 6-26 😇

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78'

Davies with a good run gets us closer to the line, a high kick goes up and we’re penalised for a tackle in the air.

🐾 6-26 😇

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76'

Panthers are trying to get more, Walmsley who has been a threat all game fends some Saints and gets an offload off. The Fax man kicks ahead but it’s no good and runs out.

🐾 6-26 😇

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75'
Goal
Louis Jouffret for Halifax Panthers

Louis Jouffret slots the kick from bang in front of the posts.

🐾 6-26 😇

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74'
Try
Jacob Fairbank for Halifax Panthers

The hosts finally get on the scoreboard with a break by the 30m line, Jacob Fairbank supports and get the pass to go under the sticks.

🐾 4-26 😇

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73'

Ritson at pace breaks the line but knocks on as he goes near the fullback.

🐾 0-26 😇

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70'

🔄 Walmsley off, Paasi back on.

🐾 0-26 😇

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69'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Two more by Tommy 🦵

🐾 0-26 😇

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68'
Try
Joey Lussick for Saints

JOEYYY! Bell with a good drive is just short of the line and Lussick spots a yawning gap and takes the scoot!

🐾 0-24 😇

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67'

Welsby breaks and goes for a pass out to Davies but Fax knock it down.

🐾 0-20 😇

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65'

Halifax with some wind in their sails on the back off an offside, another attempt to the winger Walmsley but he is held up over the line by Saints.

🔄 Bell on, Mata’utia off.

🐾 0-20 😇

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62'

Alex Walmsley gets a short ball near the line, juggles it but knocks on.

🐾 0-20 😇

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60'

60′: 🔄 HIA interchange with Lomax coming off, Bennison comes on.

🐾 0-20 😇

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59'

What a tackle by Tommy Makinson on his opposite winger Lachlan Walmsley, he takes him into touch as he goes looking for Fax’s first points!

🐾 0-20 😇

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57'

🔄 Wingfield off, great shift from the young man, Knowles back on.

🐾 0-20 😇

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56'

A ball is allowed to bounce and comes up well for Fax, they try pass it out to their left edge but a pass is too strong and runs out.

🐾 0-20 😇

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54'

Chance goes begging for Saints, but Welsby looks to spin by the line and loses the ball as he does.

🐾 0-20 😇

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53'

Lomax goes for a kick but Doro charges it down, the big man chases for it but Saints recover it.

🐾 0-20 😇

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52'

🔄 Walmsley on, Paasi off.

🐾 0-20 😇

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51'

Halifax go hunting and Jouffret evades some defenders but Lomax cuts him down before they knock on on the next play.

🐾 0-20 😇

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50'

Saints end a set 20m out, Dodd floats a ball high and we chase well and Fax start by their own line.

🐾 0-20 😇

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48'

Welsby goes for a kick on the left edge for Ritson to run onto but it’s too strong and goes out.

🐾 0-20 😇

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47'

Panthers get the ball back from a short kick-off, Walmsley leaps well on the last but knocks on.

🐾 0-20 😇

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45'

Makinson from the wing comes close to converting but it’s just wide.

🐾 0-20 😇

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44'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

SUPERRRR SUPER JACK! What a run from the Saints #1, he kept the Fax men guessing and he dummies around them and goes in! Beauty of a score!

🐾 0-20 😇

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42'

Halifax spill the ball 20m out. Saints look to punish and Welsby goes for a pass to Ritson but Walmsley stops it and knocks on.

🐾 0-16 😇

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Back underway with the second half. COME ON YOU SAINTS!

🐾 0-16 😇

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HT

⏸ The Saints have a good lead at The Shay heading into the break.

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38'

It’s a chaotic end to a set from Fax, Saltonstall kicks in and Woodburn-Hall goes for it with it in the in-goal area. A video ref check rules him offside.

🐾 0-16 😇

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37'

Halifax on the back of an offside push upfield but Saints hold firm once more, leaping on a kick on the last.

🐾 0-16 😇

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35'

Lachlan Walmsley stops Saints who shape up a shortside play 10m out, he intercepts a pass well.

🐾 0-16 😇

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33'

Saints come up strong though and stop the hosts, they knock on 10m out following a Davies tackle which stopped a chipped kick to the corner.

🐾 0-16 😇

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32'

The hosts are putting some pressure on our line, they force a GLDO and now follow it up with an offside call against Saints off a kick.

🐾 0-16 😇

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30'

🔄 Delaney and Paasi on, Knowles and Walmsley off.

🐾 0-16 😇

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29'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

From the sidelines Makinson converts his own score!

🐾 0-16 😇

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28'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

TOMMY! Credit to Welsby, Knowles and Wingfield in the build up to that one! Wingy off a Welsby pass cuts through, we go right and Tommy powers over on the edge!

🐾 0-14 😇

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26'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

✌ Tommy kicks the two this time

🐾 0-10 😇

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25'
Try
Jake Wingfield for Saints

Lussick with a short ball to Wingfield near the line and Wingy powers over for a score! Get in Wingy – it’s his first carry of the game! 💪

🐾 0-8 😇

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23'

🔄 Wingfield on, Bell off.

🐾 0-4 😇

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21'

Makinson with a great tackle on Lachlan Walmsley on the wing but the Halifax winger gets the ball back in and Welsby takes it strongly.

🐾 0-4 😇

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19'

The Red V again threaten the hosts’ line, Mata’utia and Lomax try a link up play but the ball doesn’t land and Halifax jump on it to stop us attacking.

🐾 0-4 😇

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18'

Great defence from the Saints, Dodd cleaned up a kick that went into space and Fax compound it with a penalty of their own.

🐾 0-4 😇

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17'

Halifax will get their first attacking set inside our half on the back of a penalty for a late hit.

🐾 0-4 😇

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14'

Sione Mata’utia bulldozes one Panthers man but a second forces him to knock on over the line.

🐾 0-4 😇

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13'

Good defence from Halifax with Saints looking to score again, a Dodd kick is taken well by Jouffret by Lewis steals the ball back!

🐾 0-4 😇

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10'

Another good attacking set by St Helens, we kick to the right corner and Batchelor makes an immediate tackle on the Fax player.

🐾 0-4 😇

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Makinson pulls the kick wide.

🐾 0-4 😇

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7'
Try
Joey Lussick for Saints

A burrow over from next to the line gets tonight started! Classic hooker play by Joey 👌

🐾 0-4 😇

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6'

Saints come close with Walmsley smuggling the ball out near the line, Bell goes over but following a video ref check it’s not given.

🐾 0-0 😇

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5'

Halifax are pushed back on their own line, Dodd kicks to the corner but the hosts catch well and Davies in the tackle takes the Fax man into touch.

🐾 0-0 😇

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3'

Saints with the first threat, a high kick goes to the left corner and we compete for it but Halifax catch it well.

🐾 0-0 😇

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Kick Off

KICK-OFF! Challenge Cup clash with Halifax Panthers at The Shay is underway!

🐾0-0 😇

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Prep done, time to meet the Panthers.

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Prep done, time to meet the Panthers.

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Paul Wellens has spoken with pride about two things ahead of KO: 1) The importance of the Cup 2) Over 1,200 Saints fans making the journey to The Shay!

The boss also is delighted to have Morgan, Sione and Iggy back!

🏆 Here’s how your Saints line-up against Halifax in the Challenge Cup

🔙 Morgan Knowles, Joey Lussick and Sione Mata’utia return to the starting 13, and Iggy Paasi is on the bench

👋 Hello, from Halifax!

⚪ GAMEDAY 🔴

The Challenge Cup starts tonight for Saints!

🆚 Halifax Panthers
📌 The Shay Stadium
⏰ 7:45pm
🎟 Tickets available on the gate
📺 Viaplay Sports
📻 BBC Radio Merseyside

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