Saints v Salford Red Devils

Saints ran in fifteen tries to beat Salford Red Devils 82-0 in their Betfred Super League opener at the Totally Wicked Stadium!

Saints took the lead early on. After a great defensive set forced Salford to kick from within their own ten metres, Saints moved back downfield. After being held up over the line once already, Saints moved the ball right and Morgan Knowles broke through a gap deep in Red Devils territory and powered his way over the try-line to score Saints’ first league try of the year. Mark Percival added the extras, 6-0.

A second try followed immediately from the kick off. Percival broke down the left edge and found Tristan Sailor in support, he then found an offload to Curtis Sironen who found Lewis Murphy who broke away down the left wing to increase the hosts’ lead. Percival missed the conversion, 10-0.

Saints made it three within the first ten minutes. Sailor got the ball down the right edge and exploited a massive gap with his speed to slide over in the corner, before running inside to make the kicking angle better for Percival. He added two more points, 16-0.

A fourth score of the half quickly followed. Salford kicked the restart out on the full, Saints used up a few tackles before Jonny Lomax fed Sironen who broke through the line and stepped inside the fullback to score. Percival added the extras, 22-0.

Saints had a fifth try just past the midway point of the half. Sailor spotted space in behind the Salford defence and put in an early kick which Harry Robertson claimed to score. Percival added the conversion from the right touchline, 28-0.

The Sixth Saints try came as we entered the final ten minutes of the first half. Daryl Clark broke down the middle of the pitch and waited for support which came from Knowles who raced away to score his second try of the evening under the sticks. Percival added the extras from straight in front, 34-0.

Robertson grabbed his second of the evening just before the break. Saints moved the ball right and that allowed Robertson to go over for his second try. Percival couldn’t convert, 38-0 Saints led at the break after a dominant opening 40.

Saints started the second half as they ended the first, with another try. The hosts moved the ball well through the hands down our right edge, Kyle Feldt breaking and finishing in the corner. The try confirmed after a trip to the video referee. Percival couldn’t convert, 42-0.

Three minutes later, Saints had a ninth try. The hosts again moved the ball through the hands, Robertson breaking down the right edge and he threw the ball back inside which Lomax claimed before throwing a great dummy to score. Percival converted, 48-0.

Try number ten wasn’t far behind. Feldt put his head through a gap down the middle and offloaded to Welsby, he found Sailor in support who raced away to grab his second try of the night under the sticks. Percival added another two points, 54-0.

Sailor had a third five minutes later. Sailor received the ball on the right edge and breezed through a gap, using his pace to win the race to the corner. Percival added another two points, 60-0.

He grabbed a fourth with just over 15 minutes to go. Welsby found Sailor in midfield and again his speed saw him break down the middle untouched to score under the sticks. Percival added two more points, 66-0.

As we entered the final ten minutes, Saints had a thirteenth try. A penalty on the Salford line gave the hosts another great chance to add points, the ball was shifted from right to left and Welsby found Percival who strolled over in the corner. Percival missed the kick, 70-0.

Shortly after, Saints had another try. Saints again camped in the Red Devils half, Lomax found Joe Batchelor who went over from close range. Percival added another two points for his tenth conversion of the day, 76-0.

The tries kept coming. Delaney broke down the middle of the field and despite being ankle tapped, he wasn’t tackled and got back up before sliding over to score in the corner under pressure. Percival added another two points from the right touchline, 82-0.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Lewis Murphy, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: James Bell, Matt Whitley, Jake Wingfield, George Delaney.

18th Man: Jon Bennison.

Tries: Morgan Knowles (5, 31),  Lewis Murphy (8), Tristan Sailor (10, 49, 54, 64), Curtis Sironen (14), Harry Robertson (21, 37), Kyle Feldt (42), Jonny Lomax (45), Mark Percival (70), Joe Batchelor (74), George Delaney (76)

Conversions: Mark Percival (11 from 15)

Salford Red Devils Team: Nathan Connell, Ethan Fitzgerald, Josh Wagstaffe, Lucas Coan, Sean Murray, Kai Morgan, Jack Gatcliffe, Leonbou Bardyel Wells, Finley Yates, Harrison Hope, Jimmy Shields, John Hutchings, Logan Lagar.

Interchanges: Joe Bullock, Ben Hellewell, Tiaki Chan.

18th Man: 

Tries: 

Conversions: 

HT: 38-0

FT: 82-0

Attendance: 12,218