St Helens hosted Leeds Rhinos tonight with both sides coming off devastating losses in their last games, the Saints being knocked out of the Challenge Cup semi-final whilst Leeds lost in golden point to Hull KR.
These teams have headed to golden point when facing each other earlier in the season with Saints edging that game 13-12, whilst the earlier meeting was also settled by a drop goal and a score of 25-24.
That promised for this match to be a tight affair with the current aggregate this season being 37-37.
Highlights
Saints score first
St Helens entered the game with a very depleted forward pack after the Challenge Cup final but their backs were the same, and it was centre Will Hopoate who opened the scoring as he grounded Jack Welsby’s grubber kick. Interestingly Tommy Makinson seemed to make the conversion but it was deemed that the ball went too high above the posts, therefore not given.
Makinson makes it up
After the conversion controversy St Helens got themselves a penalty in kicking range and Tommy Makinson duly obliged by slotting the two pointer, to give Saints their deserved 6-0 lead.
Martin hits back
An error from Jack Welsby saw him kick out on the full granting the Rhinos great territory, a looping Blake Austin pass found Ash Handley who handed it inside for Rhyse Martin to barge over.
Waltzing Walters
Sam Walters might be heading to Wigan Warriors next year but for now he’s a Leeds Rhino and the prop showed some brilliant footwork to burst free from 25 yards out and dance over to make the game 12-6.
Myler vs Knowles
A strange incident happened five minutes shy of half time when Morgan Knowles was grabbed by Ritchie Myler and the two started to scuffle, a melee ensued but with nothing of note happening but it certainly showed that the match was heating up.
Rapid Ritson
In the last minute before the half Saints got a six again to give them territory and from there why shifted wide with Will Hopoate putting in a brilliant pass out to Tee Ritson who paced in to dive over. Makinson’s kick levelled the scores at 12-12 to set up a brilliant second-half.
Double blow against Leeds
Minutes into the second half Leeds thought they had restored their lead with another Sam Walters try but it was ruled out by the video referee for a forward pass. From the resulting attack St Helens went down the other end and scored through Jack Welsby with Hopoate once again being influential.
PNG Power
The pressure was building for Leeds Rhinos as they started to dominate territory and they managed to force the ball out wide to Nene Macdonald with the PNG man powering over the top of multiple Saints defenders to score. Rhyse Martin’s sideline conversion put the Rhinos in front 18-16 with 15 to go.
Super Jack doubles up
Jack Welsby is one of the most talented players in Super League and he burst through breaking tackles to put Saints in front. Lewis Dodd took over kicking duties and slotted in off the post to make it a four point game with the score 22-18.
Talking Points
State of Saints’ pitch
We’ve had pitch issues already this season at Wakefield, and recently Hull KR who had hosted a concert, and this time it was St Helens who had also played host to The Who. That left bald patches over the pitch and a very messy affair inside the twenty metre line, causing ridicule on social media.
“Classic Saints Leeds”
Just prior to the half time whistle the Sky cameras spoke to Chev Walker and the former Rhinos player and current coach made the comment that the game was “classic Saints Leeds” and he wasn’t wrong at all. Something special happens when these two sides face off.
Welsby best in the comp?
He scored a brace tonight and that prompted Phil Clarke to label him “the best player in the competition” but at what point do rival fans start to notice and understand that?
Player Ratings
St Helens
1: Welsby – 9
2: Makinson – 6
23: Hurrell – 7
3: Hopoate – 8
25: Ritson – 7
6: Lomax – 7
7: Dodd – 8
10: Lees – 8
9: Roby – 7
30: Delaney – 8
19: Bell – 6
22: Royle – 7
13: Knowles – 8
Subs
20: Norman – NA
21: Davies – NA
24: Baxter – NA
35: Mbye – 7
Leeds Rhinos
1: Myler – 6
2: Fusitu’a – 7
12: Martin – 7
4: Macdonald – 6
5: Handley – 6
6: Austin – 7
7: Sezer – 6
8: Oledzki – 7
14: O’Connor – 7
22: Walters – 9
11: Bentley – 8
19: McDonnell – 8
Subs
15: Lisone – 7
17: Sangare – 7
18: Holroyd -7
26: Johnson – 6
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