St Helens lose first game of 2024 to Championship club

[josie andrews]

After an interesting 2023 Super League campaign, St Helens began their preparations for the 2024 season in the freezing cold at home against the Swinton Lions.

As part of a dual registration agreement, St Helens hosted Swinton Lions at the Totally Wicked Stadium today in a pre-season friendly.

For the Saints, it is their first outing of the new year and their first game since their semi-final defeat against Catalans Dragons.

St Helens saw their four-year reign as Super League Champions ended by the French club after they had a struggle at the start of the season with sin binnings and injuries after they dramatically won the World Club Challenge in a great game.

The Saints would lose key men to injuries in controversial fashion after losing the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh Leopards.

Then legend James Roby saw his career end in disappointment when the Saints lost their first Super League semi-final since 2018.


Paul Wellens named a very young Saints side with Konrad Hurrell as the most experienced player. Fellow 2022 Grand Final winner Jon Bennison also featured whilst second-rower Sam Royle captained the side.

The young Saints struggled in the first half conceding after six minutes with former Warrington Wolves and Bradford Bulls halfback Dec Patton grounding a grubber kick to give the Lions the lead.

The Lions built pressure with a 40/20 which helped lead to a big cut-out pass to Jayden Hatton diving in at the corner to score and make it 12-0.

Great defence from St Helens helped stop the Lions from adding to that three minutes later as the game ticked into the 13th minute.

Konrad Hurrell nearly created a try for young Dagnall but he was unable to score and four minutes later Swinton scored again after the Saints kicked the ball out. This time it was Matthew Chrimes who dived in at the corner.

Six minutes later Hatton got his second as the Lions made it 20-0 after a penalty before a move down the left edge.

Just before the break, a powerful run by Brett Bailey saw him power over to score Saints’ first try of 2024. That made it 20-6 at halftime.

Halfback Ben Davies then created a try for Jonny Vaughan straight after the break with a lovely kick to make it 20-12.

The Saints defended well for a period until Chrimes got his second as the Lions attacked down the right.

Brad Hammond then scored the Lions’ sixth try of the game as they continued to struggle to nail the conversion.

With 15 minutes left, Ciaran Nolan scooted over to score Saints’ third but it wouldn’t be enough.



https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/st-helen ... lub-87499/

[doc]