Saints v York Knights

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Saints beat York Knights 40-16 in the first Betfred Super League between the two sides at the BrewDog Stadium!

First Half

Saints took the lead eleven minutes in. The Red V drove down the middle of the Saints defence, a few tackles in, loanee Bill Leyland spotted a gap from dummy half, as he did on Derby Day, and burrowed his way over to score. Jackson Hastings added the conversion, 6-0 we led.

Five minutes later, we had a second try. Saints shifted the ball through the hands down the left edge, Hastings threw it to Owen Dagnall on the wing and he raced away to score in the corner. Hastings added a second conversion, 12-0.

Three minutes later, Daggers had a second try. Saints went down the short side, the returning Nene Macdonald found Dagnall who again slid over in the corner. Hastings couldn’t convert this time around, 16-0.

Just before the half-hour mark, we had our first trip to the video referee. Tristan Sailor spotted a gap and looked to have rolled over in the corner but the ball came loose as it hit the ground. Despite it looking to have been grounded over the line, the on-field verdict of no try stood.

York made the most of their reprieve. An error on our own line gave them a set in great field position, Jesse Dee running a strong line and he broke through the defence to score. Cody Hunter added the conversion, 16-6.

Saints almost had an opening for a fourth try two minutes later. Sailor broke and found Dagnall in support on his inside but some good covering defence from York stopped him well short of the line.

Just before the break, York had a second try. The Knights put a kick in which Saints failed to deal with and Dee grounded it for his second try of the evening. Hunter couldn’t convert, 16-10.

Second Half

After a tight tussle in the opening twenty minutes of the second half, Saints extended their lead just after the hour mark. Under the sticks, Leyland went left from dummy half and Alex Walmsley crashed over to score from close range. Hastings added a simple conversion, 22-10.

A few minutes later, Saints had a penalty under the York posts and opted for two points. Hastings slotted it over to give us a three-score lead, 24-10.

Three minutes later, the Red V had try number five. We worked the ball to the right edge and the returning Jack Welsby fancied taking on the York defence and he did it successfully to score. Hastings missed the kick, 28-10.

Four minutes later, another Saints try. Jake Davies picked the ball up deep inside his own half and raced away to celebrate his new contract with a four-pointer. Hastings added the extras, 34-10.

There was still time for one final Saints try. Harry Robertson did well to find Macdonald on the right wing and he strolled over in the corner to score. Hastings added the extras, 40-10.

York scored a try with the final action of the contest. Paul McShane kicked high cross field and Scott Galeano caught it before grounding it under pressure from Robertson. Hunter converted with the final kick of the game, a 40-16 victory for the Red V at the BrewDog Stadium against the Knights!

Match Summary

Saints Team: Tristan Sailor, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Owen Dagnall, Jonny Lomax, Jackson Hastings, Alex Walmsley, Bill Leyland, Matty Lees, Shane Wright, Matt Whitley, David Klemmer.

Interchanges: Jack Welsby, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, Jake Davies.

18th Man: Tom Humphreys.

Tries: Bill Leyland (11), Owen Dagnall (16, 19), Alex Walmsley (61), Jack Welsby (68), Jake Davies (72), Nene Macdonald (78)

Conversions: Jackson Hastings (5 from 7)

Penalties: Jackson Hastings (1 from 1)

York Knights Team: David Nofoaluma, Jon Bennison, Kieran Buchanan, Myles Harrison, Scott Galeano, Ata Hingano, Cody Hunter, Jack Martin, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan, Matty Foster, Jesse Dee, Sam Cook.

Interchanges: Denive Balmforth, Xavier Va’a, Justin Sangare, Ben Littlewood.

18th Man: Oliver Field.

Tries: Jesse Dee (30, 38), Scott Galeano (80)

Conversions: Cody Hunter (2 from 3)

HT: 16-10

FT: 40-16

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Saints Line up

6	Tristan Sailor
2	Kyle Feldt
3	Harry Robertson
25	Nene Macdonald
24	Owen Dagnall
7	Jonny Lomax
31	Jackson Hastings
8	Alex Walmsley
33	Bill Leyland
10	Matty Lees
12	Shane Wright
16	Matt Whitley
13	David Klemmer
1	Jack Welsby
15	George Delaney
28	Jake Davies
21	Noah Stephens

York Knights Line up

46	David Nofoaluma
23	Jon Bennison
21	Kieran Buchanan
35	Myles Harrison
5	Scott Galeano
6	Ata Hingano
37	Cody Hunter
8	Jack Martin
9	Paul McShane
10	Paul Vaughan
27	Matty Foster
12	Jesse Dee
29	Sam Cook
14	Denive Balmforth
15	Xavier Va'a
16	Justin Sangare
47	Ben Littlewood

Last updated 1 May 26 21:54:37

✅ The Saints get the win over York Knights with a strong second half performance!

80'

Try

Scott Galeano for York Knights

On likely the last play of the game, McShane kicked a huge one up to Galeano, and the York winger managed to take it despite Robertson’s tackle, just inches left of the field to play in.

79'

York by their own 20m, Hastings tries a one-pointer but scuffs the kick.

78'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

Jackson from the touchline! 🎯

😇 40-10 ⚔️

77'

Try

Nene Macdonald for Saints

NENE SCORES ON HIS COMEBACK 😎

Harold Robertson with a remarkable setup for that one though! He kicked a short one, picks it up and fired a big one out to Macdonald!

😇 38-10 ⚔️

76'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

✌️ Two more added by Jacko

😇 34-10 ⚔️

74'

Try

Jake Davies for Saints

JAKEYYYYY! ⚡️

Four in four for our young back-rower!

He got on a loose ball and raced 70m to go over in front of the West Stand! What a way to celebrate his new deal!

😇 32-10 ⚔️

72'

A wild end to a York set, one of ours and a York player battle for a loose ball and it’s knocked back.

Dagnall is then green carded, unsure why.

71'

Challenge is judged ‘inconclusive’.

71'

York kick the restart and it doesn’t go 10m but one of their men catches it.

The visitors use their Captain’s Challenge to contest that decision.

69'

Hastings misses the kick this time.

68'

Try

Jack Welsby for Saints

SUPER JACK IS BACKKKKK 🦸

On the right edge he spots a gap and he breaks a tackle to force his way over!

😇 28-10 ⚔️

67'

A penalty following the restart against St.Helens, so York gifted a golden chance to attack but we turn them away and Big Al forces a knock on.

65'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

Creative play by our Saints, we kick a chip in the middle, then we kick it on again and force a York knock on.

The visitors strip the ball, so we have a penalty and Hastings slots it over.

63'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

Kick added by Jacko 🥾

61'

Try

Alex Walmsley for Saints

BIGGGGG AL! 💪

The Big Man celebrates his new deal with a classic Walmsley try, close to the line he barges over!

Brilliant score after that 40/20 kick!

😇 20-10 ⚔️

60'

Brilliant play by Sailor and Hastings on the last, Tristan kicks a 40/20 after a late switch play.

59'

York overturn the GLDO call due to a tackle in the air being judged.

59'

York back by their own 10m line. Hastings floats a kick across the field, it’s caught by Galeano, and we tackle him in the in-goal and a GLDO is given. But the visitors use their Captain’s Challenge.

58'

Robertson takes a bounced ball following a collision between Sailor and a York man.

We now push into their half of the field.

57'

York have been really in control of the territory, Saints not had many attacks in the opposition half since early in this second stanza.

56'

St.Helens deal with some chaotic York play very well, leaping onto a kicked ball on the ground.

54'

Great chase on a loose ball by Welsby, stopping Nofoaluma from getting away.

York kick high and look to pin us close to our own line.

53'

A falling Knights man is judged to have been taken high, he rapidly lost height, and a penalty given.

53'

Macdonald with a strong carry late in the set, got us going.

52'

Macdonald this time fields a high one well.

51'

Hastings kicks from the middle of the field, Lees leads the chase.

50'

Sailor takes a high kick calmly under pressure.

49'

Sailor with a brilliant run through several York men takes us into their half, but a knock on late in the set will give the visitors a scrum.

49'

🔄 Delaney and Stephens off, Walmsley and Klemmer on.

😇 16-10 ⚔️

48'

Bennison fields a kick well, he’s met by Delaney and Stephens as a welcoming party.

47'

York manage to pinch the ball, 20 metres off our line. We firm up in defence though, and Hastings leaps on a loose ball they half knock backwards.

46'

More good defence by the S-Men, York held by the halfway line.

45'

St.Helens go close a couple of times, Whitley on the last tries to power over in the corner, but York scramble well.

44'

A beautiful hit-out pass from Welsby to Feldt, but Kyle going back inside copped a high one and will need to come off for a HIA.

😇 16-10 ⚔️

42'

Late hit on Hastings as we got into the York half of the field.

40'

Back to it!

40'

Strong last defensive set by St.Helens, York held in their half.

38'

Conversion missed.

37'

Try

Jesse Dee for York Knights

York get another. A kick into space is chased well by Dee, Dagnall on the run tries to clear it out but can’t.

35'

A big burst through by Lees he takes lots of metres but is stopped well by the York fullback.

😇 16-6 ⚔️

35'

🔄 Welsby comes on – he’s backkkk!

Leyland comes off

35'

York far better as the half has gone on, attacking more in our territory now.

A smart switch play tries to catch us out, but Sailor deals with the kick just fine.

34'

Lomax fires a pass out to Feldt, Kyle goes for the corner, but trying to ground it bounces it.

32'

Sailor bursts through, he has Dagnall on his shoulder and passes to him.

Owen shakes off one tackler, but Hingano with a high tackle gives us a new set.

30'

Try

Cody Hunter for York Knights

Conversion added by Cody Hunter

29'

Try

Jesse Dee for York Knights

The Knights get on the board.

A knock on by our own line following a high bomb gave the visitors a fresh set, and Jesse Dee, on the charge, hit a strong run close to the whitewash for a try.

28'

York the furthest they’ve got upfield so far and they get a new set after a knock on by Feldt from a high bomb.

27'

No try confirmed.

😇 16-0 ⚔️

27'

York are pushed back to their own line, Delaney very close to powering over.

Leyland whips the ball out to Hastings, Sailor takes it to the right corner and thinks he’s got it down.

VR called for, no try signalled.

26'

🔄 Stephens on, Walmsley off.

25'

40/20 attempt by Hastings, but Nofoaluma gets back to the bouncing ball.

23'

Both sides trade knock-ons shortly after one another, we then knock on as we look to go into their 30m area.

20'

🔄 Lees passed his HIA, Klemmer comes off and Matty back on.

Kick missed this time.

😇 16-0 ⚔️

19'

Try

Owen Dagnall for Saints

DAGGERS IS IN AGAIN! 😮‍💨

Smart short side play from the Saints, Macdonald’s pass to Owen was sublime

😇 16-0 ⚔️

18'

Vaughan with a high shot, bad one from the former Wolves man.

17'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

Hastings with a beautiful kick from out wide! ✌️

😇 12-0 ⚔️

16'

Try

Owen Dagnall for Saints

DAGGERRSSSS 🗡️

Lovely shape on our left and a terrific Hastings pass to Owen on the wing sees him cruise into the corner!

😇 10-0 ⚔️

14'

York give away a penalty off the first carry, in the tackle too long.

13'

Goal

Jackson Hastings for Saints

Hastings slots the conversion over. 🦵

😇 6-0 ⚔️

12'

Try

Bill Leyland for Saints

BILLLLLL! 😄

A big carry from Walmsley in the middle and next to the line sets Leyland up for a scoot over from dummy half and the opening points!

Seems a good lad does Bill.

😇 4-0 ⚔️

11'

Alex Walmlsey goes hunting for a tackle and forces a knock on, great effort by the big man.

10'

Competitive opening ten then by both, the Knights have been steady and Saints have kept it calm so far. Strong defensive efforts on show by both teams.

Bennison on the wing chases a high kick, but he knocks it on contesting in the air with Sailor.

Lomax runs the ball on the last, he gets a short pass to Wright to close out this set – 10m away.

York held again in their own half.

Couple of close calls, Klemmer and Walmsley charge in from close range. Hastings on the last runs it and York have to start off their own line.

😇 0-0 ⚔️

HIA interchange, Lees off, Delaney on.

😇 0-0 ⚔️

York’s first attack in our half ends on tackle one, a knock on by the Knights.

A penalty against the Saints, judged to be in the ruck too long.

Better defence from the visitors this time, St.Helens are just in their territory.

Dagnall runs into the side of Robertson, looking for gaps across the field.

Another good defensive set, York held by their 30m line and kick down field.