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Saints slay Dragons in Challenge Cup

10 Apr 22, 7:21AM 0 Comments

Written by Daniel Church

Photo by St Helens RLFC

St Helens beat Catalans to make sure that the double was still on. Both sides played very well, but as everyone knows, St Helens are a different class. A first half onslaught was the initial blow for the Dragons, but they fought back well.

Both sides exchanged sets for the early minutes, before some discipline issues from the Dragons allowed Saints to go 0-2 ahead after Makinson’s kick. A smart choice given that it was right Infront of the sticks, and still early in the game. Saints received the ball back, but nothing came of the set.

Catalans gained back-to-back penalties, for offside and a high tackle, but Saints showed their strong defence much like last week at Headingley and stopped Catalans in their tracks.

Again, sloppy tackling gave Catalans an opportunity, a flailed arm from Makinson gave them a repeat set. Dragons played a smart ball out to the right and Yaha put the ball down over in the corner. Relief for saints as the kick missed. 4-2 to the hosts

Sets completed well, until sloppy defence allowed the fullback to break, eventually getting the ball out to Hopate who fed it to Jack Welsby setting up Makinson with an easy kick straight under the sticks. He added the two.

Back-to-back tries for St Helens as they carved open the defence again, Sironen made the break, loads of support allowed Welsby to carry and get the ball on the inside to Dodd. Makinson added the extras taking the lead to 10 points.

Catalans were really struggling in the first half, another try for Saints saw them 16 points ahead after 30 mins. Makinson converted.

A silly high tackle saw Sironen go to the bin just before the first half ended, and Tomkins hobbled off for the Dragons, a real blow for both sides.

From the penalty, Catalans took advantage and got over, the kick also converted leaving the points gap at 10 going into the break.

The second half started better for Saints, piling the pressure on looking to extend their lead. 6 minutes in this is what they did Knowles crashed over putting Saints once again 16 points ahead before the kick. Makinsons extras just about made it over in the wind! Putting their lead at 18.

Catalans and Saints both attacking well, forcing back to back sets from penalties and errors, Catalans desperately needed a try with only 20 minutes to go and that is what they did, Yaha got his second of the evening and Morgue narrowed the lead with the extra two.

Minutes after Catalans tried to get back into the game, Saints’ Dan Norman crashed over after a pass out of dummy half. Makinson added the extras once more, his kicking was exceptional all game.

With 10 minutes to go Batchelor killed off the game with a great try, a short ball from Lomax allowed him to crash over through the line. Makinson missed for the first time of the night, and Catalans finished well with a try from Tom Davies in the 78th minute but it was sadly unconverted leaving the score 20-36 at full time.

Full Time

Catalans 20
St Helens 36

Catalans: Tomkins, Davies, Romano, May, Yaha, Pearce, Drinkwater, Garcia, McMeeken, Jullien, Dudson, McIlorum, Napa.

Interchanges: Mourgue, Chan, Dezaria, Kasiano.

Tries Yaha (2), Dudson, Davies
Goals Morgue 2

St Helens: Welsby, Hopoate, Hurrell, Percival, Makinson, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Batchelor, Sironen, Knowles

Interchanges: Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Paasi, Norman

Tries Welsby, Dodd, Percival, Knowles, Norman, Batchelor
Goals Makinson 6
Sin Bin: Sironen

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