Saints suffered their first defeat under Paul Wellens, following a 25-24 defeat against Leeds Rhinos.

Saints were reduced to twelve men for ten minutes inside the opening quarter of the first half. Sione Mata’utia was judged to have hit Aidan Sezer late and the referee changed his original decision from a Goal Line Dropout to a penalty as the two players had treatment, 0-0.

Leeds took the lead a few minutes later. A break down their right edge saw David Fuisitu’a break down the wing, he found Richie Myler on his inside who then found Ash Handley, who turned Jonny Lomax inside out to score. Rhyse Martin converted, 0-6.

Saints levelled soon after. A break down the right wing from former Rhino Konrad Hurrell gave Saints great field position but he was able to offload to the supporting Jack Welsby who was held inches short of the line. Saints were then awarded a penalty and off the back of it Joey Lussick spotted a gap from dummy half and stretched over to score. Tommy Makinson converted, 6-6 it was tied.

The hosts then took the lead for the first time midway through the half. After earning a penalty in Leeds territory, the Red V ran it and a couple of tackles in Lewis Dodd stepped and stretched over to score from close range. Makinson converted again, 12-6 the hosts led.

Leeds then narrowed the gap again, the visitors played off the cuff and a kick from Sezer found Martin who grabbed the loose ball and stumbled over the line from close range. The second rower converted his own try, 12-12 it was tied.

Saints then grabbed another score. Leeds made an error in their own ten and Dodd pounced on the loose ball under the sticks, he probably won’t ever score an easier try. Makinson converted again, 18-12.

Those were the final points of a high-scoring first half at the Totally Wicked Stadium, as the Red V led the Rhinos 18-12.

The hosts extended their lead six minutes into the second half. Welsby put a good grubber kick in near the Rhinos line and Mark Percival collected the loose ball, and looked to have put it down. However, the video referee awarded a penalty try instead as a Saints player had been obstructed trying to chase the loose ball. Makinson converted for the first two-score lead of the game, 24-12.

Another good chance quickly followed. A high kick was won by Makinson who patted the ball down for Welsby to stroll in, however the referee ruled forward.. Saints then had the chance to make it a three-score game as they had a penalty to the right of the sticks, however Makinson’s attempt went wide so it remained 24-12.

Another Saints was then sent to the sin bin. Leeds looked to move the ball left and Myler was hit late by Curtis Sironen. After a long stoppage, the referee decided to reduce the hosts to twelve again, 24-12. The Rhinos took immediate advantage of their man advantage. After working the ball to the middle of the field Cameron Smith threw a dummy before breaking through the line to score. Martin converted, we had a one-score game again, 24-18.

Another try looked to have followed. Saints worked the ball right and Dodd put in a beautiful kick on his weaker right foot, Makinson won the race to the loose ball and looked to have grounded it in the corner. However, the video referee judged that Makinson didn’t have control so the try wasn’t awarded and it remained 24-18.

The Rhinos then tied the game. Saints were unable to wrap up a tackle as the Rhinos played off the cuff, the ball finding its way to Martin who someone broke tackles before stretching out to score. Martin converted and once again it was tied at 24-24.

In the final minute former Rhino Hurrell was sent off for a late hit on Myler which put Leeds in great field position. Saints blocked the first one-point attempt but the Rhinos got another set which allowed Blake Austin to kick a last gasp winner, 25-25.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Joey Lussick, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jake Wingfield, James Bell, Sam Royle.

Tries: Joey Lussick (16), Lewis Dodd (20, 28), Mark Percival (46),

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (4 from 4)

Penalties: Tommy Makinson (0 from 1)

Sin Bin: Sione Mata’utia (8), Curtis Sironen (58)

Red Card: Konrad Hurrell (79)

Leeds Rhinos Team: Richie Myler, David Fusitu’a, Nene MacDonald, Ash Handley, Derrell Olpherts, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Tom Holroyd, Jarrod O’Connor, Zane Tetevano, James McDonnell, Rhyse Martyn, Cameron Smith.

Interchanges: Kruise Leeming, Justin Sangare, Sam Walters, James Donaldson.

Tries: Ash Handley (11), Rhyse Martin (24, 70), Cameron Smith (59)

Conversions: Rhyse Martyn (4 from 4)

HT: 18-12

FT: 24-25

Attendance: 15,148

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
4 Mark Percival
5 Jonathan Bennison
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Joey Lussick
13 Morgan Knowles
11 Sione Mata’utia
16 Curtis Sironen
13 Morgan Knowles
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Jake Wingfield
15 James Bell
22 Sam Royle

Leeds Rhinos Line up

1Richie Myler
2David Fusitu'a
4Nene McDonald
15Derrell Olpherts
6Blake Austin
7Aidan Sezer
5Ash Handley
18Tom Holroyd
9Kruise Leeming
10Zane Tetevano
19James McDonnell
12Rhyse Martin
13Cameron Smith
25James Donaldson
22Sam Walters
17Justin Sangare
23Liam Tindall

Last updated 3 Mar 23 21:55:41

FT

Saints suffer a late defeat in their first home game of the year.

😇 24-25 🦏

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Drop Goal
Blake Austin for Leeds Rhinos

Blake Austin kicks the winning drop-goal.

😇 24-25 🦏

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Red Card
Konrad Hurrell for Saints

Konrad Hurrell is sent off after a late hit on Myler.

1:42 on the clock.

😇 24-24 🦏

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77'

Austin goes for the drop goal but is charged down well by Saints.

😇 24-24 🦏

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76'

There is a coming together between both sides after a tackle from Walters on Lees. Saints are penalised following it.

😇 24-24 🦏

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74'

Saints force a GLDO.

😇 24-24 🦏

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Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin adds the kick and we’re back level with just over nine minutes to go.

😇 24-24 🦏

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70'
Try
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds keep the ball alive with a lot of second phase play, the Saints have holes in their defence on the left edge and Rhyse Martin spins to score.

😇 24-22 🦏

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68'

Sironen back on the field.

😇 24-18 🦏

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67'

James Bell comes off, on comes Big Al.

😇 24-18 🦏

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66'

Hurrell chases down the Leeds winger who thinks he can break on the wing, but Konnie’s pressure makes him put in a kick and it goes out.

😇 24-18 🦏

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65'

🙌 Great hands from Welsby under a high bomb and with the Rhinos running towards him.

😇 24-18 🦏

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62'

Makinson dives onto a Lomax kick into the right corner, he and the Saints think he’s got to it and scored but a video ref assessment rules it out.

😇 24-18 🦏

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61'

Changes for Saints, Lees and Knowles on, LMS and Lussick off.

😇 24-18 🦏

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Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin slots over the kick from in front of the sticks.

😇 24-18 🦏

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60'
Try
Cameron Smith for Leeds Rhinos

After a sin-binning, followed by a penalty, Leeds get over the line with Cameron Smith off a short drive.

😇 24-16 🦏

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58'
Yellow Card
Curtis Sironen for Saints

Curtis Sironen is sent to the bin for a late hit.

😇 24-12 🦏

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57'

Saints push Leeds back on their own line, just come up a metre short.

😇 24-12 🦏

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54'

Saints at the scrum push Rhinos back, Leeming comes off worse for wear from it and needs to be helped from the field.

😇 24-12 🦏

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52'

Saints have a penalty and choose to go for the two, but Makinson pulls it just wide for his first miss of the night.

😇 24-12 🦏

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50'

Saints cause the Rhinos issues, the ball is ricocheted about in the in-goal and we get a GLDO.

😇 24-12 🦏

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47'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Tommy nails the kick! 👌

😇 24-12 🦏

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46'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

Saints get a penalty try, Percival as he goes to get the ball in the in-goal area is taken out and so after going to the video ref Saints get a four-pointer!

😇 22-12 🦏

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44'

Calm start to the half by both sides. Saints pushed Leeds back onto their own line and force them to kick from their own half.

😇 18-12 🦏

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39'

Great defence from Saints after Leeds get a couple of chances to attack inside the 20m line.

😇 18-12 🦏

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36'

Wingfield on, Lees off. Let’s go Wingy! 👊

😇 18-12 🦏

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35'

Solid defence from Saints, especially after a six-again call, they defend their own line strongly.

😇 18-12 🦏

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33'

Leeds by the 30m line try a left-edge play but the pass is forward.

😇 18-12 🦏

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32'

Saints almost get their fourth score, Lomax next to the line on the last places a grubber into the in-goal, Percival tries to get to it but it’s just out of play.

😇 18-12 🦏

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29'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Three from three for Tommy 🦵

😇 18-12 🦏

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28'
Try
Lewis Dodd for Saints

It’s a Doddy double! ✌ The Rhinos are pinned by their own line and a bad pass is leapt on by Lewis!

😇 16-12 🦏

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27'

Lomax on the last goes hunting on his own, he’s a couple of metres shy of the line though.

😇 12-12 🦏

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26'

Changes for Saints, McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Bell come on, Walmsley and Knowles off.

😇 12-12 🦏

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25'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin converts his own kick to level it.

😇 12-12 🦏

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24'
Try
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Leeds get score off a high bomb which Sezer gets to, he puts in a kick to the left and Martin collects it and despite the efforts of the Saints he rolls over the line to score.

😇 12-10 🦏

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West Stand looking beautiful tonight 👏

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21'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Two more from Tommy ✌

😇 6-12 🦏

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20'
Try
Lewis Dodd for Saints

👏 Oh my, Doddy! What a FILTHY step to cut the line and go over next to the sticks!

😇 6-10 🦏

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18'

Sione Mata’utia is back on the field.

😇 6-6 🦏

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17'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

✌ Tommy Makinson with the extras.

😇 6-6 🦏

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16'
Try
Joey Lussick for Saints

JOEYYYYYYY! Just what we needed, Lussick at the play of the ball scoots and dives over to score. After a video ref check it is given!

😇 4-6 🦏

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15'

A big bulldozing run by Hurrell and Welsby is just short of the line, but Leeds are flagged for offside. Saints set 10m out.

😇 0-6 🦏

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13'
Goal
Rhyse Martin for Leeds Rhinos

Martin adds the kick. The Saints left-edge is down on troops, Handley gets a Myler pass which cuts out the final Saints defender and the visitors open the scoring.

😇 0-6 🦏

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12'
Try
Ash Handley for Leeds Rhinos

The Saints left-edge is down on troops, Handley gets a Myler pass which cuts out the final Saints defender and the visitors open the scoring.

😇 0-4 🦏

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10'

Great defence from Saints! First Lomax who stopped a scoot next to the line and then Lussick who catches a rouge Myler pass.

😇 0-0 🦏

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10'

Great defence from Saints! First Lomax who stopped a scoot next to the line and then Lussick who catches a rouge Myler pass.

😇 0-0 🦏

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8'
Yellow Card
Sione Mata'utia for Saints

After a late hit that kept both him and Sezer down, Sione Mata’utia is shown a yellow card.

😇 0-0 🦏

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4'

First chance of the game, Dodd puts in a grubber and Saints chase but it just runs out.

😇 0-0 🦏

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Have you read our NEW Match Programme?! Exclusive content with Eamonn McManus, Paul Wellens and James Roby!

Check it out now, it’s the top story on our website!

Have you read our NEW Match Programme?! Exclusive content with Eamonn McManus, Paul Wellens and James Roby!

Check it out now, it’s the top story on our website!

🎇 Here is how your Saints line-up for the first time at home in Super League 2023!

Tommy Mak is 🔙 in the starting thirteen

SPARKS WILL FLY! We’ve got a home sell out crowd tonight at the Totally Wicked Stadium to welcome home the World Club Champions, OUR St Helens!