FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

Saints returned to the Totally Wicked Stadium for their first home game of 2023 after being crowned as the best side in the World as they faced the Leeds Rhinos in a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final.

Few could conceive of anything other than a Saints win, and most would predict that the margin of victory would be substantial after the Rhinos had started the season with back-to-back losses, Saints despatching the Castleford Tigers with some ease last Sunday.

The bookies favoured Saints and gave the Rhinos a fourteen-point start on the coupon, most observers thinking that this was a little over respectful to Rohan Smith´s side.

It was a full house, looking forward to enjoying a Saints masterclass.

On seven minutes, and the Rhinos first possession in the Saints half,  Sione Mata´utia was sin-binned for a late tackle on Aiden Sezer, the Rhinos half back leaving the field for a Head Impact Assessment.

With an extra man it was a sensational scoring start for the Rhinos when Nene MacDonald broke down the wing, passing inside to Richie Myler who in turn passed to Ash Handley who turned Jonny Lomax inside out with a great step to go in by the right upright. Rhyse Martin added the conversion for 6-0.

On fifteen Saints made a breakaway downfield after thwarting a Leeds attack, and after the Rhinos were penalised for not square at the marker, Joey Lussick darted from dummy half to stretch for the line to score. Tommy Makinson added the conversion to level the scores.

Just before the twenty minute mark Lewis Dodd gave Saints the lead for the first time in the game after stepping off both feet and bamboozling the Leeds defence to dive over under the sticks. Makinson added the easy goal for 12-6.

On twenty-three it was the Rhinos turn for a four pointer when Sezer took an up and under on the Saints forty before putting in another kick, this time collected by Martin who span over the line under a tackle. He added the conversion and things were all level again, the Saints fans noticeably hushed.

A catastrophic error in the Leeds defence, Derrell Olpherts spilling a Bake Austin pass on twenty-seven, gifted Dodd a second try as he picked up the loose ball and walked in. Makinson was on target again for 18-12.

The Rhinos ended the half with three successive sets in the Saints twenty but great defence kept them out, the home side taking a hard earned six point lead into the break. It was tougher going than anyone exxpected.

On forty-four Saints extended their lead when a Jack Welsby kick through was taken and grounded by Mark Percival under the tackle of MacDonald, to force the ball onto the ground for a four pointer. Makinson was on target again, the lead now twelve points with Saints seemingly edging to safety.

Austin conceded a penalty on his own line for dissent, a cardinal sin, but Makinson was unable to take advantage as he uncharacteristically kicked his penalty attempt wide.

On fifty-seven Curtis Sironen was sin-binned, again for a late hit on the kicker, this time Myler.

Two minutes later Sam Walters was the provider as Cam Smith took the pass to crash over by the right upright. Martin added the conversion, and the Saints lead was back down to a single converted try.

Just as Leeds grabbed themselves some hope, Justin Sangare knocked-on from the kick off. Two plays later a kick through was chased by Makinson but he knocked on in the act of scoring and the Rhinos had played their ´Get Out of Jail Free´ card.

There was just over ten minutes remaining, Saints back to thirteen players, when a never say die move from the Rhinos saw Martin spin out of a tackle after some incredible scrambled attack, to get the ball on the deck. Martin added the conversion, and the sides were locked up, that earlier missed penalty from Makinson was coming back to haunt Saints.

Austin attempted a drop goal on seventy-six but the Saints defence did well to charge it down but two minutes later Myler was hit late by Konrad Hurrell after putting in a kick, the Saints man shown a red card for direct contact with the head.

Fifteen seconds from the final hooter the Rhinos set up for the drop goal and Blake Austin slotted to seal a sensational 25-24 win.

The final hooter sounded to home fan booing around the Totally Wicked Stadium as the Leeds lads celebrated in front of their travelling support. The Rhinos stuck in the game and knuckled down to grind out the win while Saints imploded when things were not going their way. Uncharacteristic Saints indiscipline, with two yellow cards and a red for Hurrell, cost them the points while the Rhinos got their season underway in incredible style, albeit three games in.

St Helens: Welsby, Makinson (4G), Hurrell (SO on 78), Percival (T), Benninson, Lomax, Dodd (2T), Walmsley, Lussick (T), Lees, Mata´utia (SB on 7), Sironen (SB on 57), Knowles. Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Bell, Wingfield, Royle. 18th Man: Davies.

Leeds Rhinos: Myler, Fusitu´a, Macdonald, Handley (T), Olpherts, Austin (DG), Sezer, Holroyd, O´Connor, Tetevano, McDonnell, Martin (2T, 4G), Smith (T).  Subs: Leeming, Walters, Sangare, Donaldson. 18th Man: Tindall.

Half-Time: 18-12.  

Full-Time: 24-25.

Score Progression: (SB), 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 10-6, 12-6, 12-10, 12-12, 16-12, 18-12: HT : 22-12, 24-12, (SB), 24-16, 24-18, 24-22, 24-24, (SO), 24-25: FT.

Lead Exchanges: Leeds – Square – St Helens – Square – St Helens – Square - Leeds.

Referee: Chris Kendall.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Fri 3rd Mar 2023 10:02 PM | Views : 10448 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
13m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34245
14m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
55959
16m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Emagdnim13
8702
45m
The Bulls away
Listenup94
6
55m
Fevround 2
upthetrin92
82
Recent
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
Recent
Huddersfield - Home
BigTime
5
Recent
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Dave K.
115
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
35s
Saints a
Itchy Arsena
12
36s
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Emagdnim13
8702
47s
London Away
Fartown58
1
53s
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
1m
Other Championship Clubs
Trojan Horse
97
1m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
1m
Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE
Zig
1933
1m
Championship TV deal
Trojan Horse
18
1m
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
1m
Shopping list for 2025
Tarquin Fueg
405
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
Listenup94
6
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
TODAY
Saints a
Itchy Arsena
12
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
BigTime
5
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
imwakefieldt
19
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
batleyrhino
20
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Bobby Digita
10
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
Azul
3
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
TODAY
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
TODAY
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Final Draw
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
470
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
582
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
515
Warrington Demolish London For..
637
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
687
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
660
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
911
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
893
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1041
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1009
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1065
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1052
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3826
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1176
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1057
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist