Saints v Leigh Leopards

Match Report
As it Happened
Line Up
Matchday Programme
Match News

Saints suffered defeat for the first time since May, following a 4-16 defeat to Leigh at the Totally Wicked Stadium…

First Half

Saints had the better of the opening ten minutes. Strong carries from Alex Walmsley and Curtis Sironen put the Red V on the front foot but a poor kick at the end of the set gave Leigh a seven-tackle set.

Shortly after Saints moved the ball left on the penultimate tackle but Sironen was stopped short of the line before the Leopards claimed Moses Mbye’s high kick on the last tackle.

Fourteen minutes in we had our first trip to the video referee. Near the Leigh line, Tristan Sailor put in an early kick which was well chased, Owen Dagnall claimed he had won the race to the loose ball as the visitors tried to let it go dead. The on-field call of no try was quickly agreed with, 0-0 it remained.

Minutes later, we had another trip upstairs. On the last tackle, Gareth O’Brien put a high kick to the Leigh left edge which Josh Charnley pushed back inside and the ball eventually found it’s way to Frankie Halton who dove towards the line from close range. After a review, it was deemed a Leopards player was offside from the initial kick and the hosts were awarded a penalty.

We then went upstairs for our third video referee decision within five minutes. Saints again on the Leigh line as Sironen looked for an offload but the ball went to ground, there was then a scramble for the loose ball which Leigh won the race too, but conceded a dropout in the process.

Midway through the first half we had the first attempt for points. Leigh were awarded a penalty for a scruffy play the ball and opted for two points from about 37 metres out to the right of the posts. O’Brien converted from distance to give the visitors a 0-2 lead.

Mbye was then forced off for a HIA after a late hit by a Leigh player as Saints moved the ball down the left edge, with George Whitby his replacement.

Leigh tried to add to their lead. A penalty pushed the visitors into our half, on the last tackle, they put in a low kick which forced Whitby to concede a dropout.

It was the visitors who then had another penalty with the chance to add two more points. Kyle Feldt hit O’Brien without the ball, he got up and tried to add to Leigh’s lead but his kick went wide, 0-2 it remained.

Just before the break, Leigh had another shot at two points. Feldt’s dropout went out on the full and the visitors went for goal. O’Brien converted from in front of the sticks, 0-4 the visitors led as we headed for the break.

Second Half

Saints again started the second half the better. An error by Alec Tuitavake gave the hosts possession back just inside our own half. The Red V marched into Leopards territory but Lomax’s low kick on the last tackle was claimed by Tesi Niu.

With just over 20 minutes of the game to go, Leigh grabbed the first try of the evening. A penalty gave the visitors possession deep in Saints’ half and a few tackles in O’Brien found Ofahengaue in support on his inside and he stumbled through a tackle and scored under the sticks. O’Brien added the extras, 0-10 Leigh led.

The visitors threatened again. Another penalty pushed Leigh into Saints territory but this time good Saints defence forced a knock on, on our own line.

Josh Charnley then fumbled the ball near his own line giving Saints a set ten metres out. The Red V used up the tackles with Whitby kicking high on the last, Feldt found Harry Robertson but he was tackled short of the line and Leigh turned it over.

The next set Saints had we opted to run it on the last, Whitby found Matt Whitley but he was tackled and Leigh turned the ball over inside their own 20.

Leigh then could’ve sealed the win. Edwin Ipape broke through the middle and found Lachlan Lam on his left, when Bailey Hodgson on his right would’ve had a free run at the try-line. Saints recovered the ball the next tackle after an error from Ipape.

A second Leigh try came towards the end of the game. Lam’s high kick was fumbled, Ofahengaue picked up the loose ball and scored his second try to the left of the sticks. O’Brien converted, 0-16.

Saints did grab a consolation. Leigh knocked on from the restart, Saints went right and Robertson scored in the corner. Feldt couldn’t convert, 4-16 it finished.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Matt Whitley, Owen Dagnall, Jonny Lomax, Moses Mbye, Alex Walmsley, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney, Curtis Sironen, Matty Lees, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Jon Bennison, Agnatius Paasi, George Whitby, Leon Cowen.

18th Man: Jake Davies.

Tries: Harry Robertson (80)

Conversions: Kyle Feldt (0 from 1)

Leigh Leopards Team: Bailey Hodgson, Keanan Brand, Umyla Hanley, Tesi Niu, Josh Charnley, Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Joe Ofahengaue, Frankie Halton, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu.

Interchanges: Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Andrew Badrock, Ben McNamara.

18th Man: AJ Towse.

Tries: Joe Ofahengaue (59, 78)

Conversions: Gareth O’Brien (2 from 2)

Penalties: Gareth O’Brien (2 from 3)

HT: 0-4

FT: 4-16

Attendance: 11,805

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Saints Line up

6	Tristan Sailor
2	Kyle Feldt
3	Harry Robertson
16	Matt Whitley
24	Owen Dagnall
7	Jonny Lomax
14	Moses Mbye
8	Alex Walmsley
18	Jake Wingfield
15	George Delaney
11	Curtis Sironen
10	Matty Lees
13	Morgan Knowles
5	Jon Bennison
19	Agnatius Paasi
17	George Whitby
27	Leon Cowen

Leigh Leopards Line up

24	Bailey Hodgson
18	Keanan Brand
3	Tesi Niu
4	Umyla Hanley
5	Josh Charnley
6	Gareth O'Brien
7	Lachlan Lam
8	Owen Trout
9	Edwin Ipape
32	Joe Ofahengaue
11	Frankie Halton
12	Jack Hughes
13	Isaac Liu
15	Alec Tuitavake
16	Matt Davis
21	Andrew Badrock
22	Ben McNamara

Last updated 17 Jul 25 21:55:06

⏹ The Saints fall to a defeat against Leigh Leopards in Round 19.

Full time sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

80'

Try

Harry Robertson for Saints

Robertson gets the Saints on the scoreboard.

Leigh knocked on following the kick restart, and from the scrum we go left and Harry scores, avoiding the nilling.

Feldt misses the kick.

79'

Goal

Gareth O'Brien for Leigh Leopards

O’Brien adds the two.

78'

Try

Joe Ofahengaue for Leigh Leopards

Joe Ofahengaue gets on the end of scrappy lost ball following a kick. A Video Ref check confirms the score.

77'

On the last Knowles tries to force his way through the middle, but he’s well stopped.

75'

Robertson by the wing is taken in touch, but he gets the ball away before and it comes off a Leigh man but he’s judged to have not played at it.

73'

Ipape tries to go himself off a short kick with the Saints on the backfoot, but we leap onto it to stop the attack.

🔄 Delaney on, Walmsley off.

72'

On the last we try shape up and pass out to the left, but Whitley gets cut down.

70'

A high kick is caught by Feldt and passed to Robertson, but Leigh scramble to stop us.

68'

Charnley knocks on off a high bomb close to the Leigh line! Come on Saints.

67'

A terrific leap and catch by Sailor following a high bomb.

66'

Saints struggling to get out of our own half, with Leigh controlling the territory much more in recent minutes.

63'

The Leopards threaten from close range again, but lose the ball next to the try line.

🔄 Paasi off, Walmsley on.

62'

St.Helens again judged offside and Leigh get a leg up the field once more.

61'

Goal

Gareth O'Brien for Leigh Leopards

The Leigh half adds the kick from bang in front.

59'

Try

Joe Ofahengaue for Leigh Leopards

The Leopards off that offside penalty go in.

A short pass back on the inside unlocks our defence and the visitors go in.

58'

Saints now judged as offside, Leigh move into dangerous territory.

57'

Saints use our Captain’s Challenge, looks like Lomax may have been pushed off the ball whilst trying to catch an offload.

Challenge is unsuccessful. Leigh scrum, 25m out.

😇 0-4 🐆

57'

More strong tackling by our Saints, they’ve been strong and impressive again in that department, but we are in need of scoring some points and need to create more in attack, especially in their territory.

56'

A third man in a tackle went low and Feldt stayed down initially after that one.

The tackle goes on report.

😇 0-4 🐆

55'

More resolute defence by our men, Leopards held in their own half.

🔄 Paasi on, Delaney off.

54'

Metres hard to come by now, Saints just get into the Leopards half to close out a set.

53'

O’Brien kicks the ball into touch after bouncing in the field of play, by our own 20m line.

51'

Lomax with a great shot on a Leigh player forces the ball loose, but we then knock it on ourselves two plays later.

😇 0-4 🐆

50'

Hodgson manages to field a high kick with one foot in the in-goal, a tap 20m restart.

50'

🔄 Wingfield on, Walmsley off.

49'

Leigh don’t get out of their own 40m, more strong defensive work by our Red V men.

48'

Saints again threaten the Leigh line but don’t get points. Walmsley off a big charge went closest, before Lomax reversed a run to attack a shortside but Nui fielded it well.

47'

Alec Tuitavake knocks on by the halfway point, we look to play it out quick.

46'

Sailor gets an offload away, Lomax then hunts for a gap but nothing there. Whitby kicks on the last but out on the full.

45'

Strong defence again from our boys, and a great kick return from Dagnall.

44'

The Saints kick on the last and it’s allowed to bounce, we get it back and Robertson tries to weave his way through, kicks ahead but Leigh get on it first.

42'

Leigh push us back to our own line, and a kick almost bounces up kindly in the corner, but it’s out.

⏯ Back underway at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Big second forty. COME ON YOU SAINTS.

😇 0-4 🐆

⏸ Down by four at the break against the Leopards.

Half time sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

⏸ Down by four at the break against the Leopards.

Half time sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

40'

Goal

Gareth O'Brien for Leigh Leopards

The drop-out is then kicked out on the full, and bang in front of the sticks O’Brien adds to more points to end the half.

38'

A swirling high bomb is allowed to bounce, Sailor races back to it but is tackled in-goal.

36'

Mbye prowling the touchline, looks like he passed his HIA.

38'

A swirling bomb is allowed to bounce, Sailor races back to get to it but Nui takes him back into the in-goal.

36'

Mbye prowling the touchline, looks like he passed his HIA.

36'

Brilliant defensive follow up from our men, keeping them by their own 20m line.

35'

Short but high chip by Whitby on the last in the left corner. Saints looking to keep the pressure at this end of the field.

34'

Saints get a penalty, we push closer to the try line.

33'

Leigh looking to attack the left knock on the ball. Saints ball 40m off our own line.

32'

Feldt makes a quick tackle on O’Brien but it’s off the ball.

The Leopards get another penalty, they call for the kicking tee again, O’Brien now up and fine to kick it, but he misses it.

30'

Saints fans fuming with no penalty given for an obstruction, it looked like a Leigh man blocked a tackle being made.

29'

The Saints hold Leigh out once again, Whitby takes a short kick in-goal and gets an offload off to Dagnall.

Ipape has two of three goes at completing the tackle, but is judged fair.

27'

From the penalty, Leigh have us pushed back on our own line.

A short kick is drilled in from dummy half and Whitby clears it out for a GLDO.

25'

Great defence and a follow through drive back on Hanley is quickly extinguished as the Saints are judged to have stayed in the tackle too long, giving Leigh a penalty.

24'

More strong Saints defence, the visitors not getting out of their own half.

23'

The Saints on the move have Moses Mbye taken out, looked late if not off the ball.

Mbye comes off and George Whitby comes on in his stead.

23'

Shotttt by Morgan Knowles.

Leigh kick downfield early, Sailor gets to the ball and gets out of dodge.

Leopards though have a man who goes down, so time off.

😇 0-2 🐆

21'

Goal

Gareth O'Brien for Leigh Leopards

Mbye is judged to have interfered at the play of the ball, so Leigh are given a penalty.

Around 35m out and 10m in from the touchline, they call for the kicking tee.

O’Brien adds the first points of the evening.

20'

🔄 Paasi on, game 100 for the Saints!

Walmsley comes off.

19'

The Red V get the first six-again close to the Leigh line after a short drop-out.

Delaney on the charge loses the ball next to the line, and then we get penalised for offside.

17'

The referee calls for the Video Ref for a third time in quick succession.

The Red V have the Leopards by their own line, a late offload by Sironen looks to have gone loose and off a number of men.

No try given. GLDO.

16'

Walmsley has the ball stripped with three Leigh men on him. Saints penalty given, by the visitors’ 40m line.

15'

Leigh think they have gone in, a kick from O’Brien looks to have been knocked forward, but play goes on…

Another Leopards man then drives himself forward and claims to have scored.

VR confirms no try.

14'

Following the Leigh kick out, Saints push Leigh back once again and Sailor dabs a short kick into the left corner.

Dagnall gets up claiming a try, but after a VR check it is confirmed as no try.

13'

Gareth O’Brien attempts a 40/20 but it goes out on the full.

12'

Another strong attack by St.Helens, our right edge ran close but shy of the line. Mbye again high and to the middle, O’Brien catching the ball this time.

11'

Outstanding defence by the Saints, Leigh don’t get out of their own 30m this time before kicking down field.

10'

The Red V move the visitors back onto their own try line. Mbye from the left edge kicks high into the middle, but a Leopard claims it.

Leigh make the first mistake, a knock on in our half.

Great offloading by our men, Sailor and Walmsley create a little chaos.

Lomax ends our closest set so far with a big kick but it is caught in the in-goal for a tap 20m restart.

Brilliant defence by our boys, the visitors just in their own half. Set for set start this game, both side looking to not make the first error.

Terrific carries by Walmsley and Sironen take us just beyond halfway on an attack.

O’Brien hoists a ball high this time, Sailor under pressure jumps highest and gets us going the other way.

More good defence from the Leopards, Saints again held in our own half.

Leigh stopped by our 40m line, Lam goes high and Feldt is fine under the high ball.