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2021 RLCCF
2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : Smith made just one change to his squad that took on York Valkyrie mid-week, with Emily Rudge stepping out and the 18th player from that win on Wednesday, Megan Williams, starting in the back-row. It was a flying start for the Saints on their first attack of the fixture, Luci McColm broke the line from the kick-off and put her team in a great position to strike quickly. Shaping up and playing the ball out to the left, Faye Gaskin fed captain Jodie Cunningham a ball in a gap for the opener inside the first minute. Gaskin added the kick. The hosts first chance would then follow, with a scuffed kick bouncing kindly, however as they looked to keep working the ball a knock on turned off their momentum. From the Raiders error, more shaped up play to the left edge allowed McColm to find a great pass for Leah Burke and our winger dived into the corner, her third try inside four days. Gaskin could not add the conversion this time from the sidelines, 0-10, just eight minutes played. It was a strong defensive opening for the Saints, Barrow were limited on the metres they could make and kept getting held in their own half. McColm, already proving to be a handful for the Raiders, almost grabbed a score for herself but the hosts managed to keep her away inches off the line. Our control of the game then allowed the right-edge a chance to attack, breaking up that side and then hitting a short-side play allowed Erin Stott to assist Meg Williams for a powered finish in the corner. Gaskin’s conversion was just short on power from the wing, 0-14, with seventeen minutes on the clock. Saints struck back-to-back scores, with the hosts desperate to find a way out of their own danger zone a player went for an intercept of a Gaskin pass but bundled it forward. Zoe Harris mopped up the loose ball and sprinted through space and under the sticks, Gaskin added her second conversion for a 0-20 scoreline, a point for every minute played up to that point. Not resting on their laurels of the opening quarter, Saints showed some real ruthlessness. Barrow again showing their desire to try get some form of foothold in the game got pinged for a ball steal. Veteran half Gaskin then with a classic #7 show and go close to the Raiders line forced her way over, stretching out to ground the ball. Faye added the extra two points to her try, 0-26. Back-rower Paige Travis then added to a real purple patch of scores for St.Helens. Hitting a brilliant running line Gaskin fed Paige the ball and on the move she fended away Barrow’s fullback Vanessa Temple for a strong finish. A fourth conversion from six attempts went over from Faye, 0-32 with fourteen left in the half. At the half hour mark, clearly confident St.Helens sought to shift the ball along the line just inside the Raiders’ half but knocked on. A much needed bit of relief for the hosts, but they would not get much time with the ball. After some good defending Beri Salihi and Cunningham combined well on the right following a six-again call. Another short-side play with Erin Stott passing to Rachael Woosey this time allowed the winger to cut back inside and get Saints’ seventh four-pointer, with another Gaskin conversion for 0-38. With the half-time break approaching, Barrow pushed into rare good ball position after a Saints penalty. The hosts were now doing well in keeping us in our own half, getting a repeat set after going close and a Red V hand needing to clear a ball out of the sidelines. The final play of the half saw Barrow be awarded a penalty 10m from the line which they elected to kick, and Jodie Litherland made no error with the boot to get Raiders on the scoreboard and end the half, 2-38. The Saints started the second half strongly after dealing with an initial Barrow push, however an obstruction penalty gave the Red V their first major invite to attack after the break. Rachael Woosey grabbed a second score from a well worked scrum, finishing it under pressure in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 2-42. Much like the try she grabbed in the first period, Gaskin after a good drive forward put on a show and go but even better this time slicing through the Raiders to go under the posts, making her conversion an easier one to kick, 2-48 with around 50 minutes gone. Five minutes later Williams grabbed a brace too, with Cunningham dropping the ball off for an onrushing Meg hitting a strong line, and she would crash next to the sticks for our tenth meat-pie of the afternoon. Gaskin’s seventh two pointer made it 2-54. At the hour mark, some needed good field position for Barrow following an incorrect play of the ball invited them to attack 30m out. After a couple of drives towards the line Temple managed to jam in two Saints defenders and get the ball out somehow to winger Sam Norman for a finish into the corner, earning the biggest home cheer of the game. Litherland could not add the conversion though, 6-54. The Saints attempted a short kick-off after conceding and won the ball back by Burke, and Smith’s troops then tried to power over for an immediate response but were kept short of the line. Saints returned to working hard in defence in Barrow’s half, earning a scrum after forcing an error. Channy Crowl then drew in a whole host of defenders and a big overlap opened up on the right and it was worked to Woosey via a Harris cut-out pass for her hat-trick score! Gaskin could not add the kick, 6-58 with ten minutes left in the match. The right-edge again pushed for another with Erin Stott just held up over the line before Travis was held short. Firming up to restrict the hosts’ metres, an error gave another chance. Passing left and right and back again, Vicky Whitfield then in the middle burst through to crash down for a much deserved try following all her hard, metre-making carries. No error from Gaskin this time, for 6-64 with a couple of minutes left. Barrow would get the final attack of the game and sought to finish with a consolation score, but the Saints continued making things difficult before the hooter went and the full time whistle was blown. An impressive trip to Cumbria for the Saints, and a second victory in four days to keep their winning run going. Thanks to the Saints Media Centre for their excellent report. |
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