SAINTS BEAT LEIGH TO MAINTAIN 100% START

Saints have defeated Leigh Leopards 12-4 this evening at a very cold Totally Wicked Stadium!

Less than a minute in, John Asiata was sent to the sin bin for another low hit. Saints were unable to take full advantage of the extra man, as the Leopards defence held film until Asiata returned to the field. His return didn’t last long though, as he left the field with an injury 15 minutes in.

Leigh’s first big chance came 21 minutes in. A 40/20 from Lachlan Lam gave them field position inside Saints’ 15 metre mark. A massive hit from Konrad Hurrell on Ricky Leutele knocked the ball loose, as the Leigh centre looked to score in the corner.

Saints hit the front on the half-hour mark. The ball was shifted left, Matt Whitley broke through after being found by James Bell, he offloaded to Jack Welsby who slid over from close range. Mark Percival supposedly missed the kick, 4-0 Saints led.

Another chance followed. Lewis Dodd’s high kick on the last was allowed to bounce by Gareth O’Brien, Welsby chased but Tom Briscoe was just able to win the race, as Saints forced a dropout.

From it, the video referee was soon called upon. Saints moved it from left to right and Hurrell slid towards the right corner. The referee ruled no try on field, the video referee agreeing. Saints had another tackle but a poor kick followed by a flop gave Leigh a penalty.

The final chance of the half could have gone Leigh’s way. O’Brien threatened and peeked his head through a gap, but his attempted offload to Josh Charnley on the wing went into touch.

Six minutes into the second half, another trip to the video referee. O’Brien broke down the middle but was well tackled by Welsby, the following play Leigh went right and Zak Hardaker found himself with space ahead of him and and crashed over the line. After multiple looks, the try was awarded. He was unable to convert his own try, 4-4 it was tied.

Saints then produced a try of the month contender. Dodd found himself on the left edge, he took the line on broke through and found Tommy Makinson on his inside supporting and he raced 40 metres before scoring to the left of the sticks. Percival converted, 10-4.

It soon became a two-score game. Percival converted a penalty after Lomax was hit late, 12-4 Saints led. Saints had another penalty in good field position. On the last, Dodd tried to set Percival free down the short-side, but he was well tackled by a covering Leythers defence.

Video referee decision number three come with 15 minutes to go. Moses Mbye’s low kick was chased by Saints, but they looked to be impeded as Leigh tried to get the loose ball. The video referee ruled no wrongdoing, Leigh had to dropout. Saints almost pulled off another audacious try from it. Alex Walmsley powered through the middle and tried to find Morgan Knowles, who would’ve gone over for his second try of the season, the ball just about escaping his grasp though.

Leigh had the chance to close the gap as a penalty pushed them deep into Saints territory. Rob Mulhern fumbled the ball on tackle three though, relieving the pressure on Saints. From the restart, Knowles broke down the middle of the Leigh defence and found Dodd in support, he tried to get up quickly but Brad Dwyer wouldn’t allow it and therefore sent to the sin bin.

Makinson then dove over in the corner on the last tackle of the following set, however the touch judge ruled the Saints winger had gone into touch before he grounded the ball.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Sione Mata’utia, Matt Whitley, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Moses Mbye, James Bell, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.

18th Man: Ben Davies.

Tries: Jack Welsby (30), Tommy Makinson (51)

Conversions: Mark Percival (1 from 2)

Penalties: Mark Percival (1 from 1)

Leigh Leopards Team: Gareth O’Brien, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Ricky Leutele, Josh Charnley, Matt Moylan, Lachlan Lam, Jack Hughes, Brad Dwyer, Rob Mulhern, Kai O’Donnell, Frankie Halton, John Asiata.

Interchanges: Dan Norman, Matt Davis, Ben Nakubuwai, Owen Trout.

18th Man: Ed Chamberlain.

Tries: Zak Hardaker (46)

Conversions: Zak Hardaker (0 from 1)

Sin Bin: John Asiata (1), Brad Dwyer (75)

HT: 4-0

FT: 12-4

Attendance: 13,028

Take a look at your FREE Matchday Programme, click the image below!

Exclusively in our Round 3 edition of Saints & Proud:

• THE BIG READ with James Bell
• Chairman Eamonn McManus writes about the start of the season
• An interview with Leah Burke on her recovery
• Paul Wellens pens his regular Head Coach column
• Match reports from Rounds One & Two
• Morgan Knowles on the impressive win at the Giants
• Plus all the key Saints news you need to know!

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
9 Daryl Clark
11 Sione Mata’utia
16 Curtis Sironen
19 Matt Whitley
13 Morgan Knowles
14 Moses Mbye
15 James Bell
18 Jake Wingfield
20 George Delaney

Leigh Leopards Line up

1Gareth O'Brien
2Tom Briscoe
3Zak Hardaker
4Ricky Leutele
5Josh Charnley
6Matt Moylan
7Lachlan Lam
12Jack Hughes
33Brad Dwyer
10Robbie Mulhern
11Kai O'Donnell
16Frankie Halton
13John Asiata
14Dan Norman
15Matt Davis
17Owen Trout
18Ben Nakubuwai

Last updated 1 Mar 24 21:49:07

80'

Leopards on the very last play try a kick to the winger, but Bennison clears it out at the hooter!

79'

Welsby, Dodd and Knowles pass it between them but Morgan as he looks to fend off a man knocks on.

😇 12-4 🐆

77'

Makinson dives into the corner! But the referee says he was in touch.

😇 12-4 🐆

77'
Yellow Card
Brad Dwyer for Leigh Leopards
75'

James Bell with a great pass to Knowles cuts the Leopards open, the #13 then finds Dodd who is held down in the tackle and Brad Dwyer is sent to the bin. 🟨

😇 12-4 🐆

75'

Leigh get up the field for the first time in a while, there is a high shot by Saints gifting them a chance but they cough the ball up.

We stop the pressure.

😇 12-4 🐆

72'

Another close one for Saints, Lomax tries to hit Sione Mata’utia late on with a pass next to the line but it’s not caught.

😇 12-4 🐆

70'

Saints trying to keep in control as we head into the final ten, Dodd with a kick into the right corner on the ground and we look to keep them there.

68'

Saints go oh so close! Big Al gets over a Leigh man as he’s tackled, he offloads to Morgan Knowles who’s supporting but the ball is too low and can’t be taken clean with the try line begging.

😇 12-4 🐆

66'

On the last Saints have Leigh on their line, Mbye kicks into the in-goal and Dodd looks to have been taken out whilst chasing.

Video ref checks it, no try. GLDO by Leigh.

😇 12-4 🐆

63'

🔄 Delaney off, Walmsley on.

Saint George gets applause as he comes off the field.

62'

Hurrell bulldozes on the right edge and goes close, he somehow fires the ball back in. Dodd places a small grubber on the ground and Leigh get flagged for offside.

10m out. Come on Saints.

Come on you Saints 💪

📸 @plattyphoto

60'

🔄 Knowles back on, Wingfield off.

59'

Dodd with another smart bomb which Bennison almost comes off but Leigh will restart by their own line.

😇 12-4 🐆

58'

From the kick-off Norman for Leigh hits Delaney high.

😇 12-4 🐆

56'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

After the small break in play Saints get a scrum but Leigh get penalised for what looks like a late shove on Lomax.

We call for the kicking tee and Percival adds the two.

😇 12-4 🐆

55'

Tom Briscoe needs to come off the field, Hughes back on for Leigh.

54'

Great follow up defensive work by our men! Makinson chases a high kick and after a couple of plays the visitors knock on.

😇 10-4 🐆

52'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

✌ First kick of the night landed by Mark Percival!

😇 10-4 🐆

51'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

T-MAK! ™

Oh my word that is a beautiful Saints score and it came from within our own half! Dodd took on the line and fired back into a supporting Tommy who goes under the sticks!

😇 8-4 🐆

50'

Both sides trade sets, looking to create openings.

🔄 Mbye on, Clark off.

😇 4-4 🐆

47'

🔄 Sironen off, Matautia back on.

47'

Hardaker misses the kick.

46'
Try
Zak Hardaker for Leigh Leopards

Try. Leigh.

Leigh’s first major attack of the half and they score, Nakubuwai got a half break opening the Red V up. Welbsy stopped O’Brien well but Hardaker on the next play crashes over.

😇 4-4 🐆

45'

Great stop of a Lam kick by Delaney by our own try line 👏

42'

Some off the cuff play opens Leigh up, Sironen with a pass around the back of a Leopard to Lomax, he kicks and the follow up is good, but Moylan just gets out of the in-goal.

Let off for the visitors too, offside pen.

40'

Second forty is underway! COME ON YOU SAINTS.

😇 4-0 🐆

HT

⏸ Saints just edge the lead against Leigh Leopards in a physical battle

38'

More solid defence from the Saints this time on the left edge. Great by Percival.

38'

More solid defence from the Saints this time on the left edge. Great by Percival.

37'

Let off for Leigh, Saints get penalised with the visitors by their own try line.

😇 4-0 🐆

36'

The Red V push the Leopards back to their own line, we play the ball through the hands after Whitley fends around on the left. We go all the way right, Hurrell powers over and we go to the VR.

Sent up as no try.

35'

Great kick by Dodd, he cuts the Leigh men who are back for it and we force a GLDO!

😇 4-0 🐆

34'

Delaneyyyy 💪 Good hit after O’Brien took in a kick.

32'

Kick missed by Percival.

😇 4-0 🐆

31'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

31′ SUPPPPERRRRRR JACKKKKK! 🦸‍♂️

That’s the breakthrough we’ve been looking for! A rare penalty gives Saints good field position and on the move Bell hits Whitley with a pass, and Matt gifts one to Welsby!

😇 4-0 🐆

29'

Good hands by Makinson, fielding a high Lam kick. 👐

28'

🔄 Double interchange for Saints, Walmsley and Knowles off, Bell and Wingfield come on.

27'

Big men battle in the middle, Mulhern pokes through a hole but Big Al stops him.

25'

Leopards push up field off their right wing, on the last O’Donnell gets a late pass but the Red V scramble well.

Come on you Saints 💪

📸 @plattyphoto

22'

Konrad at it now!

Leopards with their first major attack of the game off a 40/20 kick by Moylan.

Hurrell collides into his opposite number Leutele to force a knock on!

21'

40/20 by Moylan, the Leopards with their first real challenge by our try line.

19'

🔄 Delaney on, Mata’utia off.

😇 0-0 🐆

18'

SIONE NOW! 💥 Huge hit by our #11!

18'

Clark spots a gap on the last, he goes through it but the offload doesn’t come off.

16'

💥 BANG! What a hit Morgan Knowles!

15'

Dodd kicks a bomb which O’Brien takes well, Percival goes for their fullback to stop them.

13'

More needle and edge in this game already, Leigh by their own line shoot the line and kick off about the play of the ball not coming, but their man was in the way.

Saints don’t make the chance pay though either.

Asiata back on. Saints now by the Leigh line, they interfere at the play of the ball. We go again.

10'

Another error from Saints, Clark tries to find an offload but no good.

😇 0-0 🐆

8'

Cagey end to an attacking set by Saints, Welsby fires to Whitley late but the back-rower can’t go into space.

8'

Cagey end to an attacking set by Saints, Welsby fires to Whitley late but the back-rower can’t go into space.

6'

Dodd lofts a high ball for Charnley and Sironen is there to hit him straight away, great tackle.

4'

The visitors get a chance on the back of penalty, Saints pinged for offside.

Moylan tries shaping up a play on the left but Leigh knock on.

3'

First chance doesn’t come off for Saints, Clark on the run hits up the Leigh line but knocks on.

1'
Yellow Card
John Asiata for Leigh Leopards

🟨 Into the bin goes John Asiata.

😇 0-0 🐆

1'

Less than a minute in and we’ve got some pushing and shoving… Asiata with a low one.

Kick Off

KICK-OFF! Here we goooo Saints vs Leopards!

😇 0-0 🐆

Go time. 😤

Go time. 😤

🎧 Eric McKenna is getting the West Stand primed for a big game!

@plattyphoto 📸

Take a look at how the Leopards line up by pressing the LINE UP tab here on our Match Centre 👀

Paul Wellens has revealed with his gameday update that Waqa Blake caught the bug that has sadly gone through the camp the past week or two. Get well soon Waqa! ❤

😇 The Saints will lineup like this tonight for Round Three against Leigh Leopards!

Hurrell is back to start and Mbye will come off the bench for his first appearance of the season 📰

⚪🔴 All set up in the home changing rooms.

Who do you want to see in the Saints’ lineup tonight?

If you’re not coming to the ground tonight, where in the world are you tuning in from? 🌍

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🔻 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗔𝗬

🆚 Leigh Leopards
📌 Totally Wicked Stadium
🕗 8pm KO
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