Our Scholars recorded their first win of the season, with a win over the Leigh Leopards!
First Half
It was a great start for the Saints Scholarship, with Lennon Robson crossing over after just 4 minutes. Camped right on the Leigh line, Robson scooped the ball up from dummy-half, and crashed over to the left of the field. Mason Stott converted, 0-6 the Saints.
The lead was doubled shortly after. After a penalty for a ball steal, our Scholars were once again in good field territory to strike. A play the ball in the middle of the field, the ball came left, were Leon Davies found Tyler Mills who powered over the top of the Leopards defence to charge his way over the line. Stott once again converted, 0-12.
14 minutes on the clock, and the Saints were on the attack again. A 20-metre tap gave the Saints a 7-tackle set, which they took advantage of. A play the ball on the left of the field, the Saints played a long shift back to the right, eventually finding Jack Hill in the centre who broke the line, finding Ethan Woodward back inside in support who scored to finish a brilliant Saints move. Stott converted again, 0-18.
A stoppage in play as Leigh’s Mason Cotton had the leave the field on a stretcher, wishing all the best to young Mason in his recovery and seeing him back on the field soon.
After resuming play, Leigh got themselves on the board. A six again gave a full set to Leigh in the Saints half, a shift to the left, Sonny Astley got the ball, threw a dummy before scoring left of the post. Oliver Sumner missed the conversion, 4-18, 22 minutes gone on the clock.
Last play before half-time and the Saints crossed again. Repeated sets in the Leigh half finally paid off, with Cavell Kibula crossing in the corner. A play the ball in the middle of the field, the Saints shifted left where Stott found Kian Fahey, who then found Kibula on the wing to score in the corner. Stott just missed with the conversion, sending the Saints into the break ahead by 18, 4-22.
Second Half
Seven minutes into the second half, the Saints picked up were they left off. An error from Leigh gave the Saints a full chance in the Leigh 20 metre area. A shift right saw Leo Gaskell chime in at the back, before finding Fahey in the centre who scored in the corner. Woodward took over kicking duties, but his conversion just went wide of the posts, 4-26.
Saints struck again on the 54th minute, in similar fashion to the score previous. Once again applying consistent pressure on the Leigh line, the Saints this time played to the right, Gaskell found himself with the ball out the back, before playing through the hands to Hill who then found his wingman in Jake Critchley who strolled in to touchdown in the corner. Woodward nailed the sideline conversion, 4-32.
Shortly after, Robson grabbed his second. The Saints were once again camped on the Leigh line, and another smart scoot from dummy-half saw Robson beat the marker and get underneath the Leigh defenders to score. Woodward converted the try, 4-38.
The Leopards did cross over for another score in the 66th minute. A strong carry from James Nicholson saw him go through the Saints defence from 15 metres out, before getting low to ground the ball despite the retreating Saints defence. Sumner missed with the conversion, 8-38.
The Saints would cross over for one final score, with Robbie Simpson scoring a brilliant try. A great offload from Liam Nixon got the Saints on the roll, his pass found Riley Heath, who engaged the Leigh defence, before tipping it on to Simpson who burnt the outside defence of Leigh to race away and blitz the Leopard to score. Having re-entered the field, Stott took the conversion, converting to seal the game, 8-44
Match Summary
Saints team: 1. Mason Stott, 2. Jake Critchley, 3. Jack Hill, 4. Kian Fahey, 5. Cavell Kibula, 6. Leon Davies, 7. Ethan Woodward, 8. Toby Bottell, 9. Lennon Robson, 10. Liam Nixon, 11. Tyler Mills, 12. Charlie Jeffery-Stott, 13. Riley Heath.
Bench: 14. Oliver Corless, 15. James Patterson, 16. Leo Gaskell, 17. Matthew Sinclair, 18. Zachary Dennett, 19. Robbie Simpson, 20. Spencer Lowe.
Tries: Lennon Robson (4, 58), Tyler Mills (8), Ethan Woodward (14), Cavell Kibula (39), Kian Fahey (47), Jake Critchley (54), Robbie Simpson (79).
Goals: Mason Stott (4 from 5), Ethan Woodward (2 from 3).
Leigh Team: 1. Sonny Astley, 2. Charlie Jones, 3. Jake Fleming, 4. Ronan Parry, 5. Nashe Mudzingwa, 6. Oliver Sumner, 7. Jenson Bamber, 8. Harry Miller, 19. Louie Cunliffe, 10. Ollie Sinnott, 11. Harrison Pearson, 12. Aidan Wright, 13. Mason Cotton.
Bench: 14. Isaac O’Brien, 15. James Nicholson, 16. Harrison Forsythe, 17. Aaron Killeen, 18. Haddison Etchou, 22. Kobe Mackinnon, 23. Stephen Charnley.
Tries: Sonny Astley (26), James Nicholson (66).
Goals: Oliver Sumner (0 from 2).
HT: 4-22
FT: 8-44
