Saints v Castleford Tigers

Lees comes off to a standing ovation. 👏👏👏

Keeley comes on.

First taste of First Team action for for Billy!

Robertson and Douglas combine well and Jacob almost set Harry up for a try with a kick off the wing.

Lots of changes.

Whitby now on, as is Shorrocks, Douglas and Burns.

Some great play by the Saints, Hastings taking control of the flow well. Welsby forces another goal-line drop out.

GLDO forced by the Saints.

Tigers holding on by their own line, defending well though. Close calls from Paasi, Macdonald and Wright.

St.Helens push the visitors back towards their own line, Welsby chips to the left corner but Tigers just hang onto the ball.

However, they knock on soon after.

Cas look to strike off the error, by our 30m line they kick to the right corner, Welsby tracks back well and just stays in the field of play.

A slight let off for the visitors, Wingfield tried a short ball after digging into the line, but it goes forward.

Sailor goes for a hit-out pass to Feldt, but it’s no good and runs out by the side.

Tigers by our 10m line are offside.

Back to it!

🔄 Lees off to a rousing applause, Paasi comes on.

😇 16-0 🐯

Lees with an intercept by our own line!

🔄 Cross off, Dagnall on. Shorrocks back off, Whitley returns – may not be as bad as was first feared.

😇 16-0 🐯

🔄 Shorrocks already back on, good quick rest, as Matt Whitley has to come off with what looks like a possible broken nose.

😇 16-0 🐯

Macdonald for a third time in this game intercepts a pass attempt, but just can’t quite land the catch.

Further Cas pressure, 20m out, scrum down.

🔄 Shorrocks off, Wingfield on.

😇 16-0 🐯

Tigers get a great chance to put pressure on, a judged tip tackle by their own 10m line and then a six-again just 20m out from our line after a set.

They also get an offside penalty – more defending to do.

The Red V lose the ball in a tackle by the Cas 40m line, but our defence to respond is strong and we keep the visitors in their own 40m.

Kick attempt missed by Hastings.

The Testimonial Man goes close! Cas concede a penalty though…

Saints force a goal-line drop-out, Robertson took us into the red zone with a burst on the wing.

Cas had a strong attack which pushed our Saints back to their own line, but Macdonald and Hastings hold firm to keep them out.

Weaver’s short grubber was cut down by Clark, and Daryl then pinched metres.

🔄 Klemmer off, Delaney on.

😇 12-0 🐯

Saints getting some nice attacking flow into the Fords’ side of the field. It ends with Welsby going on the shortside, and Sailor chipping but the wind takes it out on the full.

Brilliant chase off a high kick by Sailor, he tackles a Cas man right by the try line.

😇 6-0 🐯

Trading sets, Rowley’s Saints kick with Hastings by the middle of the field, it’s well chased.

Great attacking set from the Red V, it ends with Welsby trying a chip and chase 20m out, but the kick was too strong and it’s a tap 20 restart.

Saints force a knock on right under the sticks, Clark takes some metres and feeds it out to Nene and we push into the Cas half.

Macdonald again with an intercept that stops Cas for now, but allows another set close to our line.

Louis Senior has to come off the field after an injury.

We hope he’s okay and on the mend ASAP.

😇 0-0 🐯

Pressure by our line, but outstanding defensive efforts from Robertson and Clark keep Cas at bay.

On the last, Macdonald stopped a numbers advantage by patting the ball away. Another Tigers set to come.

Tigers go for a kick to the right but it’s knocked on. Nene Macdonald on tackle one tried an offload, but it’s forward and Cas will have the first major attack of the game.

Our first attack in the Cas half ends with Clark by the 40m line looking to scoot and grubber, but it’s no good and Tigers leap on the ball.

Tigers this time are held in their own half. Strong Saints defence.

Castleford kick to Saints who attack the West Stand in the first half, good Tigers defence keeps us by the halfway line.

😇 Here is how your Saints lineup for Matty Lees’ Testimonial Match against Castleford!