Saints beat local neighbours Widnes Vikings 16-12 at the Totally Wicked Stadium to earn victory in Mark Percival’s Testimonial!

The first real chance of the game came after six minutes. On the last tackle, ten out from the visitors line, the hosts opted to run the ball down the short side. Konrad Hurrell being held up just a metre away from the line.

The hosts weren’t to be kept out for much longer. After 14 minutes, James Bell ran the ball in and threw a pass to his outside just before contact to Curtis Sironen who strolled through the broken Vikings line to score in the right corner. Ben Davies nailed the tough conversion, 6-0 the hosts led.

25 minutes in the lead was further extended. Jonny Lomax made a break down the left edge and fed it to the supporting, and returning, Lewis Dodd who went over from close range. Davies converted, 12-0 Saints led.

With six minutes of the half to go, Joey Lussick was sent to the sin bin for stopping a quick Vikings play the ball during a break downfield.

With less than a minute of the first half to go, Saints once again worked the ball to their right edge on the last tackle but Jon Bennison was held up a metre short on the line. That was the final chance of the half, as Saints led 12-0 at the break in the Mark Percival Testimonial at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

It took just six minutes for Saints to increase their lead in the second half. The ball was loose on the floor and James Bell capped an impressive individual display by reacting first to score. Davies was unable to convert as his attempt bounced out off the post, 16-0.

Widnes’ first spell of pressure on the Red Vee’s line came in the 58th minute as they were awarded a penalty in the Saints 20. After initially being stopped two metres short of the line, Shane Grady was held up over the line on the last tackle as the hosts’ defence stood firm.

Minutes later the Vikings did go over. Saints fumbled the ball in their own 20 and during the set the visitors spread the ball from left to right and Ryan Ince finished in the corner. Tom Gilmore added the extras, 16-6 Saints led. The visitors thought they had further reduced the deficit a few minutes later as they dove in near the left touchline, but the touch judge had already raised his flag so the Red Vee still led by ten.

As we entered the final five minutes of the game, Widnes went over again. A move from right to left ended with Brad Holroyd cutting in from the wing and he was able to ground the ball before being forced into touch. Gilmore converted, 16-12 Saints led.

The final play of the game saw the Vikings break down their left wing and Holroyd kick the ball back inside, but some great cover defence from Will Roberts saw him walk the ball out for a goal-line dropout which ran down the final few seconds of the game to seal the 16-12 victory for the hosts in Mark Percival’s Testimonial!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jon Bennison, Jumah Sambou, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Davies, Tee Ritson, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Agnatius Paasi, Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen, James Bell.

Interchanges: Jake Wingfield, Dan Norman, Sam Royle, Lewis Baxter, Taylor Pemberton, George Delaney, Daniel Moss, Ben Lane, McKenzie Buckley, Wes Bruines, Jake Burns, Keane Gilford, Eliot Peposhi, Alfie Pyke, Will Roberts, Jonathon Vaughan, Dayon Sambou.

Tries: Curtis Sironen (14), Lewis Dodd (25), James Bell (46)

Conversions: Ben Davies (2 from 3)

Sin Bin: Joey Lussick (35)

Widnes Vikings Team: Jack Owens, Ryan Millar, Matty Fleming, Joe Edge, Kieron Dixon, Joe Lyons, Tom Gilmore, Owen Farnworth, Matty Fozard, Kyle Amor, Shane Grady, Sam Wilde, Adam Lawton.

Interchanges: Liam Bent, Aaron Brown, Oliver Davies, Callum Field, Lewis Hatton, Brad Holroyd, Ryan Ince, Jordan Johnstone, William Tilleke, Anthony Walker.

Tries: Ryan Ince (62), Brad Holroyd (75)

Conversions: Tom Gilmore (2 from 2)

HT: 12-0

FT: 16-12

Attendance: 5,768

Saints Line up

5 Jonathan Bennison
27 Jumah Sambou
23 Konrad Hurrell
21 Ben Davies
25 Tee Ritson
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
17 Agnatius Paasi
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
11 Sione Mata’utia
16 Curtis Sironen
15 James Bell
18 Jake Wingfield
20 Dan Norman
22 Sam Royle
24 Lewis Baxter

Widnes Vikings Line up

1Jack Owens
2Ryan Millar
3Matt Fleming
4Joe Edge
5Kieran Dixon
6Joe Lyons
7Tom Gilmore
8Owen Farnworth
9Matty Fozard
10Kyle Amor
11Shane Grady
12Sam Wilde
13Adam Lawton
14Ryan Ince
15Liam Bent
16Jordan Johnstone
17Callum Field

Last updated 27 Jan 23 21:42:21

The Saints secure the win over Widnes in our first game in 2023!

#COYS

79'

Fantastic effort from Will Roberts at the end to clear a dangerous kick into the in-goal area and seal the Saints win.

😇 16-12 🏁

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78'
Goal
Tom Gilmore for Widnes Vikings

Gilmore adds the kick from the sidelines.

😇 16-12 🏁

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76'
Try
Brad Holroyd for Widnes Vikings

With numbers on their left-edge the Vikings get their second through Brad Holroyd, but the young Saints almost forced him into touch.

😇 16-10 🏁

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Time off with a Widnes player getting checked over.

😇 16-6 🏁

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70'

Bruines and Royle stop Vikings on the right-edge well.

😇 16-6 🏁

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68'

Widnes have some wind in their sails now against our young bucks. McKenzie Buckley though stops their charge with a great tackle into touch at the corner.

😇 16-6 🏁

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64'
Goal
Tom Gilmore for Widnes Vikings

Gilmore adds the kick from the sideline.

😇 16-6 🏁

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63'
Try
Ryan Ince for Widnes Vikings

Ryan Ince gets the first points of the night for Widnes.

Vikings go to their right-edge and he dives in at the corner off a late pass.

😇 16-4 🏁

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59'

Good defence from the Saints, holding Widnes up over the line.

😇 16-0 🏁

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55'

Ben Lane calmly takes a smart Widnes kick on the last about 20m out, he stays in field in doing so.

😇 16-0 🏁

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49'

Davies’ kick this time comes off the post.

😇 16-0 🏁

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48'
Try
James Bell for Saints

James Bell gets a much deserved score, he has been great tonight! A high bomb isn’t caught by Widnes and it goes back into the in-goal area. Belly leaps on it for a try!

😇 16-0 🏁

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47'

46: Fantastic kick return by Ritson, he moved way in field to collect a good Widnes kick and then breaks past two Vikings players to move us out of dodge.

😇 12-0 🏁

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45'

Saints are back to a full thirteen men, Lussick though is replaced by Taylor Pemberton on the field.

😇 12-0 🏁

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40'

Back underway for the second half!

😇 12-0 🏁

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⏸ Saints are up by twelve at the break in Mark Percival’s Testimonial Game.

😇 12-0 🏁

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39'

Bennison is oh so close to a third try, he’s driving it in at the right corner but is one metre short.

😇 12-0 🏁

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38'

Shane Grady cuts through for Widnes, passes to a supporting player but they knock on.

😇 12-0 🏁

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35'
Yellow Card
Joey Lussick for Saints

Lussick is sent to the bin for holding down Davies.

Widnes broke through the line and the Vikings player had nothing between him and scoring but tripped. Joey tackled him and gets sent for 10.

😇 12-0 🏁

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32'

Ritson gets his hands on a loose ball, he tries a grubber kick and chase but Widnes dive onto it.

😇 12-0 🏁

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27'
Goal
Ben Davies for Saints

Ben Davies adds on the extras!

😇 12-0 🏁

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26'
Try
Lewis Dodd for Saints

Saints push Vikings back to their own 20m and Lomax times a pass on a half break brilliantly to Dodd for a score on his return!

Welcome back Doddy! 🙌

😇 10-0 🏁

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First try scorer for the Saints in 2023

SIRO 💪

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22'

Missed opportunity for St Helens, Davies makes a big break and passes it to Bennison but looking over his shoulder he gets held just short of the line. Widnes hold Saints out for now.

😇 6-0 🏁

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14'
Goal
Ben Davies for Saints

Ben Davies slots the goal from the wing!

😇 6-0 🏁

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13'
Try
Curtis Sironen for Saints

TRYYY! A beauty of a short ball from Bell and big Curtis Sironen gets the Red V’s first meat pie of 2023!

😇 4-0 🏁

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12'

💥 SHOT by James Bell!

10'

Saints have Widnes on their own line again, good drive in from LMS but it’s followed by a knock on.

😇 0-0 🏁

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6'

First threat of the game and it is the Saints who come close, Hurrell drives in on the right corner but five Widnes players are needed to hold him up.

😇 0-0 🏁

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KICK-OFF! We’re underway at the Totally Wicked Stadium for Mark Percival’s testimonial!

😇 0-0 🏁

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Here is how the Vikings line-up tonight!

Six former Saints in their squad, can you name them all? 🤔

Tonight is all about Percy, and whilst he is not featuring on the field – bigger challenges are just around the corner…

WATCH 📺 Percy’s preview of the game on Saints TV

😉 First appearance as a Saint incoming.

@tee_ritson

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Here is how the Saints line-up for the first time in 2023 and for Percival’s Testimonial!

Dodd is in action for the first time since April as Paul Wellens names a strong starting squad with plenty of youth to feature!

Welcome along to our Match Centre for St Helens versus Widnes Vikings, which will be Mark Percival’s Testimonial Game!

A star centre for the Saints, who has 199 career appearances in the Red V.

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