Saints suffered a late defeat away at Leigh Leopards, 20-12 on Friday night.

After working the ball downfield following a Leopards knock on early on, the hosts then laid a high shot on Matty Lees, Saints opted for two and Tommy Makinson converted the penalty from in front of the sticks, 0-2 we led.

That lead was extended in the tenth minute. Saints moved downfield and on the last Jonny Lomax kicked high to the right edge, Makinson patted the ball backwards back to Lomax who was able to spin his way over the line to score. Makinson converted, 0-8.

Nineteen minutes in, Saints had their second try. An incorrect play the ball in the Leigh half gave Saints possession in great field position, a couple of tackles into their set the ball was shifted left and Jack Welsby threw a cut-out pass to allow Jon Bennison to stroll in at the corner. Makinson’s attempt bounced out off the post, 0-12.

The best chance for the hosts came 28 minutes in. A break down their right edge saw Zak Hardaker tackled in the Saints twenty. Another tackle then passed by before Edwin Ipape’s pass was fumbled as Leigh looked to capitalise on a retreating Red V defence, 0-12 it remained.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook then entered the game to make his 450th career appearance. Congratulations, Louie!

Another chance quickly followed, the Leopards threw it from right to left but were held up over the Saints line, much to the disagreement of the home fans who had thought Ricky Leutele was over for four points.

Despite both sides having strong chances to add to the score line, it remained 0-12 to the Red V at the break at a freezing Leigh Sports Village in a hard fought first 40.

Saints had a chance to add to their lead ten minutes into the second half. A penalty in the Leigh twenty after Hardaker was penalised for dissent after disagreeing with the referee’s decision. That gave Saints a set in excellent field position. Despite that, the visitors set ended with the hosts defence holding firm, as Bennison was forced into touch on the last tackle, 0-12.

Leigh then were awarded a penalty of their own in the very next set for offside and began to move downfield. A few tackles in the hosts kept the ball alive as Hardaker found Joe Mellor, he found Edwin Ipape, but the PNG International fumbled the ball as he headed for four points after some great last ditch Saints defence.

Leigh then grabbed their first points. The hosts were awarded another penalty and moved it to their left edge where Josh Charnley cut in off the wing before finishing in the left corner. Hardaker missed the kick, 4-12.

Saints then had a small chance to increase their lead. Makinson made a great break down the right touchline and kicked the ball ahead, but it wouldn’t sit right for the waiting Welsby and bounced into touch, 4-12.

With 15 minutes to go, Matty Lees was sent to the sin bin following a high shot on Gareth O’Brien after he had collected a high kick. The hosts took full advantage. On the last and in the Saints twenty, Leigh opted to kick high to their right edge and the ball was batted down into the arms of Tom Briscoe who went over. Hardaker  missed the kick, 8-12.

The hosts then took the lead with nine minutes to go. Once again the Leopards moved downfield and the visitors were unable to wrap up Hardaker who spun away to score underneath the sticks. Hardaker converted, 14-12 the Leopards led.

A fourth Leigh try soon followed. A kick on the last in Saints territory was knocked on by Lewis Dodd and that allowed Joe Shorrocks to pick up the loose ball and score. Hardaker converted to give the hosts a two-score lead for the first time on the night, 20-12, with three minutes left.

Leigh saw out the game and claimed a big scalp for their records over the Saints, who suffered back to back late defeats which is something that has become unusual in recent times.

Paul Wellens men now have even more motivation to put right a couple of wrongs and get both the performance and the result against Hull FC next Friday night at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Match Summary

Leigh Leopards Team: Gareth O’Brien, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Joe Mellor, Lachlan Lam, Tom Amone, Matty Davis, Robbie Mulhern, Joe Shorrocks, Kai O’Donnell, John Asiata.

Interchanges: Ben Nakubuwai, Ava Seumanufagai, Ed Chamberlain, Edwin Ipape.

18th Man: Tom Nisbet

Tries: Josh Charnley (56), Tom Briscoe (66), Zak Hardaker (71), Joe Shorrocks (77)

Conversions: Zak Hardaker (2 from 4)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Ben Davies, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Agnatius Paasi, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sam Royle, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield.

18th Man: Tee Ritson

Tries: Jonny Lomax (10), Jon Bennison (19)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (1 from 2)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (1 from 1)

Sin Bin: Matty Lees (65)

HT: 0-12

FT: 20-12

Attendance: 7,734

 

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
22 Ben Davies
4 Mark Percival
5 Jon Bennison
7 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
17 Agnatius Paasi
James Roby
10 Matty Lees
22 Sam Royle
15 James Bell
13 Morgan Knowles
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Jake Wingfield

Leigh Leopards Line up

17 Gareth O'Brien
2 Tom Briscoe
4 Ricky Leutele
1 Zak Hardaker
5 Josh Charnley
6 Joe Mellor
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Tom Amone
18 Matt Davis
10 Robbie Mulhern
24 Kai O'Donnell
28 Joe Shorrocks
13 John Asiata
14 Ben Makubuwai
27 Ava Seumanufagai
9 Edwin Ipape
3 Ed Chamberlain

Last updated 10 Mar 23 21:46:09

FT

The Saints fall to a late away defeat at the Leigh Sports Village

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77'
Goal
Zak Hardaker for Leigh Leopards

Hardaker kicks the conversion.

🐆 20-12 😇

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76'
Try
Joe Shorrocks for Leigh Leopards

On the last a Leigh kick bounces awkwardly and Saints knock it into the path of Joe Shorrocks who score near the posts.

🐆 18-12 😇

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75'

Saints undo a good set which started on their own line and ended by the halfway line with a forward pass.

🐆 14-12 😇

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73'

🔁 Changes for the Saints, Roby and Paasi off, Lussick and Walmsley back on.

🐆 14-12 😇

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72'
Goal
Zak Hardaker for Leigh Leopards

Hardaker converts his own try from bang in front.

🐆 14-12 😇

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71'
Try
Zak Hardaker for Leigh Leopards

On the back of a six-again, with spaces in our defence on the right, Hardaker spins off a tackle and runs towards the middle of the field.

🐆 12-12 😇

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69'

O’Brien kicks a high bomb which Welsby takes well.

🐆 8-12 😇

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67'

Hardaker misses the kick.

🐆 8-12 😇

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66'
Try
Tom Briscoe for Leigh Leopards

The hosts make the most of the man advantage quickly with a kick to the right wing, the ball ricochets and Tom Briscoe is in.

🐆 8-12 😇

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65'
Yellow Card
Matty Lees for Saints

Matty Lees is sent to the bin for ten for a judged swinging arm whilst charging in for a tackle.

🐆 4-12 😇

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63'

Makinson with an intercept stops the hosts as they move towards the 30m line.

🐆 4-12 😇

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62'

Good short-side play from our Saints takes us close to the Leythers line but we’re judged to have had a foot in touch on the wing.

🐆 4-12 😇

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61'

James Bell calmly takes a Mellor kick on the last to quell their attack.

🐆 4-12 😇

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59'

Kick missed by Hardaker from the sidelines.

🐆 4-12 😇

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58'
Try
Josh Charnley for Leigh Leopards

Leigh finally get on the board on the back of a Saints penalty. The ball gets worked to Charnley on the wing and he squeezes into the corner.

🐆 4-12 😇

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56'

🔁 Knowles on, LMS off.

🐆 0-12 😇

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55'

Roby and Welsby both go in for a Lam kick near the sticks, they come together but Jack forces his way out of the in-goal.

🐆 0-12 😇

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53'

🔁 Walmsley off, on comes Paasi. Big runs Iggy! 💪

🐆 0-12 😇

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52'

52′: More outstanding defence! First Percival with a great hit on Hardaker, and then three more of our boys stop a charging Leopard, they also cough up the ball.

🐆 0-12 😇

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52'

More outstanding defence from the World Club Champs! First Percival with a great hit on Hardaker, and then three more of our boys stop a charging Leopard, they also cough up the ball.

🐆 0-12 😇

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50'

Saints get a penalty 20m out and run it. On the last a floating pass goes to Bennison but he’s taken into touch.

🐆 0-12 😇

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47'

A let off for for Saints, Ipape gets an inside ball and tries to cut out Welsby as the last defender and he throws a no look pass which Davies catches.

🐆 0-12 😇

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47'

A let off for for Saints, Ipape gets an inside ball and tries to cut out Welsby as the last defender and he throws a no look pass which Davies catches.

🐆 0-12 😇

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46'

Welsby on the last is the one kicking on the move but O’Brien calmly fields it.

🐆 0-12 😇

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44'

Cagey start but Saints as they did in the first are comfortable defending, Welsby with a great pick up off a Mellor kick on the run by the line.

🐆 0-12 😇

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44'

Cagey start but Saints as they did in the first are comfortable defending, Welsby with a great pick up off a Mellor kick on the run by the line.

🐆 0-12 😇

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Teams are back out – more of the same boys! 🧱

🐆 0-12 😇

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J-Lo got us going tonight with the first try! @lomax_1990

📸 @plattyphoto

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Saints fans! You’ve crashed our site with so much traffic! Thank you for coming to our match centre, apologies for the tech hiccups – don’t forget we post on our Twitter too: @Saints1890

HT here at the LSV!

HT

⏸ Saints are 0-12 up at the break here at Leigh Sports Village

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19'
Try
Jon Bennison for Saints

BENNISONNN! Jon gets a cutout pass on the left-edge and gets his first meat pie of the season!

🐆 0-12 😇

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11'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

✌ Two more from Tommy 🦵

🐆 0-8 😇

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10'
Try
Jonny Lomax for Saints

JONNNYYYYYYY! Lomax kicks to the right corner, Tommy knocks it back and into Jonny’s hands. Our #6 twists and turns to ground and scores!

🐆 0-6 😇

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4'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Saints are taken high right in front of the sticks, Makinson calls for the tee and slots the first points of the game ✌

🐆 0-2 😇

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Game time. Let’s have it.

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Game time. Let’s have it.

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Kick Off

KICK-OFF! We’re underway at Leigh Sports Village for Round 4 of Betfred Super League against the Leopards!

🐆 0-0 😇

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Game time. Let’s have it.

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Over 2,000 of the Saints faithful are in Leigh tonight and give the boys a superb welcome!

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Here come the Saints for the warm-up!

Needed tonight, it is *cold* out.

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T’Pau are performing now in the stand opposite the one the players are in! Fair play to Leigh, Carol Decker and the band sound very good and are building a good atmosphere at the LSV!

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Huge night then for this man!

450 x LMS

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Line-up to take on Leigh 🔒 locked in ✊

Roby, Paasi, Davies, Royle, and Bell are in our Saints starting side, and it will be career game 4️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ tonight for LMS, off the bench! 👏

Into the Leopards Den we go. 🐆

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Morning all! It is GAME DAY and we’re heading to the Leigh Sports Village, the Leopards Den to take on the Leigh Leopards in Round 4 of Super League 2023!

Updates to come here on our Match Centre!

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