Saints suffered a 12-14 defeat to League Leaders Catalans at the Totally Wicked Stadium…

The visitors took the lead 14 minutes in. Consecutive penalties on the Saints line and they opted to kick for two with the latter of those. Adam Keighran took the kick and converted, 0-2 the French side led.

That lead extended midway through the half. A high kick from Jonny Lomax to the Dragons’ left corner was fumbled but claimed by Keighran who found Tom Johnstone on the wing, he then raced the length of the pitch to increase the visitors’ lead. Keighran added another two points, 0-8.

James Roby was then forced to leave the field for a HIA, which he failed which also rules him out of next weekend’s Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Final against Leigh Leopards. Saints tried their best to work an opening to get back into the contest, as pass by Joey Lussick found the ground but was spilled by the visitors, the referee ruled that the ball went backwards though, so no knock on was awarded.

The hosts had a good chance to add their first points of the game. A kick through went towards James Bell who was tackled off the ball with it being touched down afterwards but the referee ruled knock on.

The hosts did respond soon after though, after relentless pressure on the Catalans line. Lewis Dodd’s low kick found the chasing Mark Percival who collected it before grounding the ball to to left of the sticks. He converted his own try, 6-8 Saints trailed.

Catalans broke through again as Sam Tomkins found Mitchell Pearce, who gave the ball back to the former Wigan man, however the referee ruled forward pass. That was the final action of the first 40, as Saints trailed 6-8 at the Totally Wicked Stadium at the break.

The Dragons grabbed the first points on the second half. The ball was worked right to Matt Ikuvalu and he was able to spin over and ground the ball. The try being awarded after a trip to the video referee. Keighran converted, 6-14. In the process of the try, try-scorer Percival was forced off for a HIA, he did not return so will also miss next weeks game against Leigh.

Saints had chances to reduce the gap, but both Lussick and Sione Mata’utia got held up inches short of the try-line. Another chance soon followed. Will Hopoate broke a tackle down the right edge and looked to have gone over in the corner, but the touch judge ruled that he had gone out before getting the ball down.

More chances followed, but Saints were unable to capitalise on their good field position as the Catalans defence stood firm.

After constant pressure, Saints did reduce the deficit. An off the cuff move saw Saints throw it around before it found its way to the right edge. Bell found Hopoate, he made a break before finding the supporting Dodd on his inside who was able to get over the line. Lussick converted, 12-14 Saints trailed.

Saints pushed hard to grab a winner but were held up just five metres from the Catalans line before almost winning it with the final play of the game but the ball found touch as Hopoate tried to find Hurrell on the visitors line. That was to be the final play, as we suffered a 12-14 defeat at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Thursday evening.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Will Hopoate, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, James Bell, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, George Delaney.

18th Man: Ben Davies.

Tries: Mark Percival (34), Lewis Dodd (74)

Conversions: Mark Percival (1 from 1), Joey Lussick (1 from 1)

Catalans Dragons Team: Sam Tomkins, Tom Davies, Matt Ikuvalu, Adam Keighran, Tom Johnstone, Tyrone May, Mitchell Pearce, Romain Navarrette, Michael McIlorum, Mike McMeekan,  Matt Whitley, Paul Seguier, Benjamin Garcia.

Interchanges: Julian Bousquet, Tiaki Chan, Jordan Dezaria, Manu Ma’u.

18th Man: Arthur Romano.

Tries: Tom Johnstone (20), Matt Ikuvalu (45)

Conversions: Adam Keighran (2 from 2)

Penalties: Adam Keighran (1 from 1)

HT: 6-8

FT: 12-14

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
3 Will Hopoate
23 Konrad Hurrell
4 Mark Percival
5 Jon Bennison
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
10 Matty Lees
11 Sione Mata’utia
15 James Bell
13 Morgan Knowles
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
17 Agnatius Paasi
20 George Delaney

Catalans Dragons Line up

29 Sam Tomkins
2 Tom Davies
21 Matt Ikuvulu
3 Adam Keighran
24 Tom Johnstone
6 Tyrone May
7 Mitchell Pearce
8 Mike McMeeken
9 James Roby
16 Romain Navarrete
11 Matt Whitley
12 Paul Seguier
13 Benjamin Garcia
10 Julian Bousquet
18 Tiaki Chan
23 Jordan Dezaria
26 Manu Ma'u

Last updated 13 Jul 23 21:55:48

⏹ The Dragons edge past the Saints by two points to get the win.

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75'
Goal
Joey Lussick for Saints

✌ Joey with the kick brings us within two points! COME ON YOU SAINTS!

😇 12-14 🐲

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74'
Try
Lewis Dodd for Saints

TRYYYYY! DODDYYYYYYY! The Saints kept the ball alive and moved it right, Hopoate with a great run brought in defenders and his basketball passes it to Lewis Dodd for a score!

😇 10-14 🐲

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72'

🔄 Paasi on, Lees off.

😇 6-14 🐲

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71'

Catalans move from their own line to ours on the back of a penalty and strong runs. Lomax leaps on a loose ball after a kick.

😇 6-14 🐲

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70'

Saints keep pressure on the Dragons line but don’t come up with points. Frustrating.

😇 6-14 🐲

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67'

Saints AGAIN are taken high as we push close, Lomax this time. Saints ball 10m out.

😇 6-14 🐲

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67'

Saints AGAIN are taken high as we push close, Lomax this time. Saints ball 10m out.

😇 6-14 🐲

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64'

Delaney is taken high, we get another good set. We go to the right for Hopoate but he’s just in touch as he goes into the corner.

😇 6-14 🐲

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62'

Hopoate on the wing makes a half break, he passes back inside and the visitors knock it out. Saints ball.

😇 6-14 🐲

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61'

Welsby again with a good take off a kick, he gets a penalty too after Dragons stripped the ball out.

😇 6-14 🐲

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59'

Dragons on the last kick and it comes off the posts, Welsby somehow gets it and us out to the 10m line.

😇 6-14 🐲

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58'

🔄 LMS off, Walmsley on. Let’s go Big Al!

😇 6-14 🐲

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57'

Lomax with a BIG tackle! 💪

😇 6-14 🐲

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55'

Lussick near the line scoots looking to score but gets held up, on the last after a stoppage we play it right but knock on.

😇 6-14 🐲

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53'

Saints threaten the Dragons line once more, a Dodd kick is calmly taken by Tomkins, but we follow the next one well with Delaney leading the drive to get a GLDO!

😇 6-14 🐲

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55'

Lussick near the line scoots looking to score but gets held up, on the last after a stoppage we play it right but knock on.

😇 6-14 🐲

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53'

Saints threaten the Dragons line once more, a Dodd kick is calmly taken by Tomkins, but we follow the next one well with Delaney leading the drive to get a GLDO!

😇 6-14 🐲

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51'

Mata’utia gets a great pass from Lomax on the last and he comes close to powering over the line, but he’s short of it.

😇 6-14 🐲

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49'

Dragons on the back of a six-again get to go close, Tomkins kicks across the field to the corner and Hopoate calmly leaps highest to stop the attack.

😇 6-14 🐲

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47'

🔄 HIA interchange for Saints, Percival off, Delaney on.

😇 6-14 🐲

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49'

Dragons on the back of a six-again get to go close, Tomkins kicks across the field to the corner and Hopoate calmly leaps highest to stop the attack.

😇 6-14 🐲

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47'

🔄 HIA interchange for Saints, Percival off, Delaney on.

😇 6-14 🐲

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46'
Goal
Adam Keighran for Catalans Dragons

Keighran adds the kick.

😇 6-14 🐲

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45'
Try
Matt Ikuvulu for Catalans Dragons

The Dragons strike first in the second half, a gap on the right allows Matt Ikuvalu to drive to the corner and after a video ref check it is given.

😇 6-12 🐲

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44'

💥 Great shot Sione Mata’utia!

The Dragons kick into the in-goal on the last, Welsby collects but is tackled for a GLDO.

😇 6-8 🐲

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42'

A baffling penalty given to Catalans for interference at the play of the ball.

😇 6-8 🐲

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40'

Back underway! COME ON YOU SAINTS!

😇 6-8 🐲

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HT

⏸ The Dragons edge a two-point lead at the break.

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35'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

Percy adds the kick! COME ON SAINTS!

😇 6-8 🐲

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34'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

TRYYY! It had been coming with Catalans camped on their own line giving away penalty after penalty, and Percival gets on the end of a great kick!

😇 4-8 🐲

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29'

After a tackle on Tomkins, the two sides all rush in and begin shoving and pushing. Catalans get a penalty.

😇 0-8 🐲

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27'

🔄 Lees and Walmsley off, Paasi and LMS on.

😇 0-8 🐲

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26'

Saints again push on the Dragons line, get given a six-again but a pass goes to ground. Looked like Catalans knocked on but not given.

😇 0-8 🐲

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24'

🔄 HIA interchange for Saints, Roby comes off, Lussick on.

😇 0-8 🐲

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22'
Goal
Adam Keighran for Catalans Dragons

Keighran adds the kick.

😇 0-8 🐲

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21'
Try
Tom Johnstone for Catalans Dragons

The Saints push the Dragons back onto their own line and on the last a Lomax chip kick falls into Catalans hands, as the man is tackled he offloads to Tom Johnstone who races the length of the field

19'

Catalans play the ball incorrectly, we get a good set inside their 30m.

😇 0-2 🐲

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15'
Goal
Adam Keighran for Catalans Dragons

Back-to-back penalties for the Dragons by our line, the second for a high tackle and they elect to kick. Keighran slots the opening points over from bang in front of the sticks.

😇 0-2 🐲

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12'

Lees again leads the chase to close down Tomkins, another good hit by the prop.

😇 0-0 🐲

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10'

Both sides have traded sets, completing well. Dodd turns the visitors around with a good kick to the left corner too.

😇 0-0 🐲

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8'

Roby rolls back the years with a run from dummy half getting us beyond the halfway line, great run skip! Dodd high bomb and Saints close it down well.

😇 0-0 🐲

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6'

The first threat of the game comes by Saints, an error allows us a set 20m out, Bell and Walmsley push well to try score but no luck.

😇 0-0 🐲

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4'

Dodd kicks a high one for Tomkins and leading the chase and making the tackle is Matty Lees, great tackle by the prop.

😇 0-0 🐲

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1'

Good first defensive set by the Red V, the Dragons kept in their own half.

😇 0-0 🐲

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Kick Off

🦵 KICK-OFF! A huge Super League game is underway at the Totally Wicked Stadium with our Saints taking on Catalans Dragons!

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Game face on.

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Game face on.

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The boss also discussed his unchanged line-up for a third game in a row and saying it was an easy choice after last week’s pleasing win, and with some players like Batchelor or Sironen close to returning to fitness.

Paul Wellens has issued his gameday update and insisted that the focus all week has been fully on tonight and that next week’s semi-final has not even been discussed.

Here is how The Saints will line-up against Catalans Dragons 😤

Paul Wellens names an unchanged line-up for a third match in a row!

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The first Saint I want to see in the line-up tonight is _________________________

Fill in the blank!

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⚪ 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗬 🔴

🆚 Catalans Dragons
📌 The Totally Wicked Stadium
🕗 8pm KO
🎟 Tickets available online
📺 Sky Sports

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