Saints v Hull KR

First Half

The Robins had a decent opening five minutes in. Bill Leyland broke some tackles down the middle and got an offload away to Flynn Holden, but Saints covered well to stop the visitors short of the line.

Two minutes later, the Red V had our first opening. We moved into the Robins half with a penalty and on the last we went left but Jonny Lomax’s pass went to ground and Hull KR held out.

The next chance came 15 minutes in. A poor kick from Mikey Lewis gifted the hosts a seven-tackle set. We used it up and on the last Lomax found Billy Keeley who peaked through a gap but he was stopped just short of the line.

Another chance came and went five minutes later. Inside the Robins twenty, Jack Welsby moved across the line from left to right and passed to Jacob Douglas on the right wing but he couldn’t collect the ball and the visitors survived again.

Two minutes later, we missed another golden chance to take the lead. We forced an error inside their half and got the ball back. Later on in the set, we moved the ball well through the hands down our right edge, Deon Cross tried to find Douglas but again the ball went to ground and the visitors got it back.

We did end up opning the scoring 26 minutes in. Camped on the Robins line again, this time we went left and the two retiring Saints legends combined as Jonny Lomax found Mark Percival with a cut-out pass and he did well to spin over the line from close range to score. Tristan Sailor added the conversion, 6-0 we led.

On the half-hour mark, we had our first trip to the video referee. Saints got a scrum in the Hull KR ten, used up a few tackles before Joe Shorrocks found Daniel Suluka-Fifita from dummy half and he looked to have bounced over from close range. After review, the try was eventually chalked off for a double movement.

Hull KR then threatened. Some good work down their left edge sent Noah Booth away down the wing. Some good retreating Saints defence pushed him into touch.

The next set, Saints had a second try. Sailor broke down the left wing, he found Percival in support on his inside and he re-paid the assist to Lomax from earlier on, who scored from close range. Sailor added the conversion, 12-0.

On the half-time hooter, we had a third try. Good hands again down our left edge saw the ball end in Lomax’s arms, he dummied his way through a gap and bounced his way over to score from close range. Sailor converted with the final kick of the half, 18-0 Saints led at the break!

Second Half

The visitors got back into the contest five minutes into the second half. A good spell for them saw Bill Leyland burrow his way over from dummy half in front of the East Stand. Charles added the conversion, 18-6 we led.

Six minutes later, they had a second try. Holden spotted a gap down the middle on halfway and broke through it, evaded some more weak tackle attempts and scored to the left of the sticks. Charles converted to make it a one-score game, 18-12 to Saints.

Saints’ best chance of the half came after 15 minutes. We shifted the ball left but Percival was chopped down on the last tackle deep inside KR territory.

We had another chance two minutes later. Jed Cartwright burst through a gap down the Saints right edge and tried offloading whilst falling but the visitors scrambled to clear up the danger.

On the half-mark, Saints had another chance. This time Lomax tried a cut-out pass to Sailor on the wing but he wasn’t able to collect it and the ball bounced into touch.

We weren’t to be denied for much longer though. Saints did well to keep the ball alive and shifted it to our right edge, Cross got it backed himself and fended off a tackler before rolling over the line to score. Sailor added another two points, 24-12.

Four minutes later, we had a fifth try. Jacob Host got the ball five metres from the Hull KR line and was able to drag the defence over the line with him. Lomax took over the kicking duties from in front and converted, 30-12.

Almost instantly from the kick off, Saints scored again. The hosts moved the ball well through the hands down our right edge. Welsby found Douglas who broke, he found Cartwright in support and he offloaded well to Robertson who finished the move. Percival took the conversion and maintained our 100% record on the night, 36-12.

With the final play of the game, Saints almost went from one end of the pitch to the other but Cross was held up inside the Robins ten. 36-12 the final score, as Saints’ 2026 campaign came to an end at the BrewDog Stadium.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tristan Sailor, Mark Percival, Deon Cross, Jacob Douglas, Harry Robertson, Jonny Lomax, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Tom Humphreys, David Klemmer, Curtis Sironen, Billy Keeley, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchanges: Jacob Host, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi, Jed Cartwright.

18th Man: Oscar Knox.

Tries: Mark Percival (26), Jonny Lomax (34, 40), Deon Cross (64), Jacob Host (67), Harry Robertson (71)

Conversions: Tristan Sailor (4 from 4), Jonny Lomax (1 from 1), Mark Percival (1 from 1)

Hull KR Team: Flynn Holden, Harvey Horne, Louix Gorman, Noah Booth, Lee Kershaw, Mikey Lewis, Jack Charles, Zach Fishwick, Bill Leyland, Cobie Wainhouse, Frankie Dearlove, Ryan Westerman, Alfie Woods.

Interchanges: Declan Murphy, Alex Gorman, Theo Middlemas, Alfie Petty.

18th Man: Harrison Horne.

Tries: Bill Leyland (45), Flynn Holden (51)

Conversions: Jack Charles (2 from 2)

HT: 18-0

FT: 36-12