2009 St Helens RLFC season
2009 St Helens RLFC season | ||||
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St. Helens entered their 137th year in 2009, and were in contention for of rugby league's Super League and Carnegie Challenge Cup competitions.
2009 season
Super League XIV
Saints come back from a 14-nil deficit early in the second half to beat Warrington Wolves 26-14.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Matt_Gidley.jpg/130px-Matt_Gidley.jpg)
Saints turn over the much improved from last season Huddersfield Giants 23-6.[2]
Hull Kingston Rovers inflict Saints' first defeat of the season, with Michael Dobson scoring a late penalty goal to give the Robins a 20-19 win.[3]
Saints scrape past newly promoted Crusaders in the lowest scoring game in the Super League; Tom Armstrong scoring the only try in a 4-nil win.[4]
Saints brush aside the Salford City Reds by 38 points to 12.[5]
Saints edge a heated epic with Leeds Rhinos - winning 26-18 at Knowsley Road.[6]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flannery_%26_Galea.jpg/130px-Flannery_%26_Galea.jpg)
Saints hammer Wakefield Trinity Wildcats by 42-18. The Wildcats are in mourning for reserve player Leon Walker, who died in a reserve game.[7]
Saints scrape past a fired up Wigan Warriors outfit, winning 19-12 after being 6-nil and 12-6 down.[8]
Saints bounce Hull F.C. in the second game of the Easter period by 44-22.[9]
Saints become the first team in Super League XIV to surpass 60 points, winning 68-22 at Castleford. Tony Puletua scores 4 tries but the game is halted for 30 minutes as Joe Westerman suffers a serious head injury.[10]
Saints suffer only their second defeat of the season as Bradford come back to win 34-30.[11]
Saints produce arguably their worst display of the campaign, losing 38-18 to arch rivals Wigan at the Magic Weekend.[12]
Saints defeat Catalans Dragons for the second time in a week, by coming back from 22-10 down to win 32-28 to move them back to the top of the table.[13]
Saints survive a second-half rally from Harlequins RL to win 22-12.[14]
Saints ease past the challenge of Hull FC, winning 30-6.[15]
Saints thrash Castleford for a second time this season in a 50 points to 10 success.[16]
Saints set a new record of 16 consecutive away wins in Super League after cantering to a 44-18 success over Bradford Bulls.[17]
Saints nil the Celtic Crusaders for a second time in the season - in a 30-0 win.[18]
Saints lose their fourth game of the season in a shock 20-10 loss to Salford.[19]
Saints beat neighbours Warrington for the second time in the league, in another fantastic game, this time by a margin of 40-26. [20]
Despite outscoring their opponents Wakefield by 5 tries to four, Saints crash to their second defeat in three games, losing 22-20.[21]
Saints bounce back from two defeats in three games with a convincing 44-24 win at Harlequins to take them back to two points clear at the top of the table.[22]
Saints edge a third game of the season against Wigan, with Kyle Eastmond scoring a late try to secure a 10-6 victory.[23]
Saints lost their third game in six as they crashed to a 26-10 loss at Hull KR.[24]
Another below-par performance saw Saints scrape past a youthful Huddersfield outfit by 12 points to 10, after being 10 points down.[25]
In a much improved performance, Saints are edged out by bitter rivals Leeds 18-10 in a third superb encounter of the season to all but end their hopes of a fifth consecutive League Leader's Shield.[26]
Saints are beaten by Catalans in the last game of the regular season to finish second in the league ladder behind Leeds.[27]
Saints just edge past a second epic in two weeks against Leeds in a bruising encounter - pulling through 22-18.[28]
Saints thrash Catalans Dragons 42-8 to reach the Quarter Finals.[29]
Saints trounce a spirited Gateshead Thunder side 66-6 to advance to a record ninth consecutive Semi-Final.[30]
Despite a Francis Meli hat-trick of tries, holders Saints were beaten 24-14 by Huddersfield.[31]
Saints beat Huddersfield in Week One to progress to the qualifying round in a 15-2 success.[32]
Saints reached a fourth consecutive Super League Grand Final after beating Wigan in a thrilling 14-10 win.[33] They will take on Leeds for a third consecutive time at Old Trafford.
Saints lose the grand final to Leeds Rhinos 18-10, this being the third consecutive Grand Final they lose to Leeds.
Upcoming Fixture(s)
Saints will round off their Super League XIV campaign against Leeds Rhinos at the 2009 Super League Grand Final.
News
It has been announced that, for the 2010 Super League Season, Saints have signed New Zealand World Cup winning centre Iosia Soliola from the Sydney City Roosters on a three-year deal.[34] Additionally, Scrum-half Sean Long will be leaving Knowsley Road after a 12-year stint. He is joining Hull F.C. on a two-year contract.[35] Lee Gilmour is also on his way out of St Helens. The second-row has agreed a two-year deal with Huddersfield Giants for the 2010 season.[36] Young half-back Matty Smith will join Salford City Reds for the 2010 season in a loan agreement.[37] Prop-forward Jason Cayless will be leaving Saints too after 4 seasons with the club owing to a shoulder injury. He will return to Australia.[38] Hull Kingston Rovers prop Nick Fozzard will re-join Saints after being released from the final year of his Rovers contract.[39]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Iosia.jpg/130px-Iosia.jpg)
Current squad
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2009 transfers
Acquisitions
Acquisitions | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Signed from | When Signed | ||||||||
Tony Puletua | Penrith Panthers | October 2008 | ||||||||
Iosia Soliola | Sydney City Roosters (for 2010 season) | May 2009 | ||||||||
Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers (for 2010 season) | September 2009 |
Losses
Losses | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Signed for | When left | ||||||||
Paul Sculthorpe | Retired | October 2008 | ||||||||
Mike Bennett | Retired | October 2008 | ||||||||
Willie Talau | Salford City Reds | October 2008 | ||||||||
Dean McGilvray | Salford City Reds | October 2008 | ||||||||
Nick Fozzard | Hull Kingston Rovers | October 2008 | ||||||||
Steve Tyrer | Crusaders (loan) | June 2009 | ||||||||
Matty Smith | Crusaders (loan) | October 2008 | ||||||||
Sam Thompson | Blackbrook ARLFC | Contract terminated and player returned to amateur football | ||||||||
Scott Moore | Huddersfield Giants (loan) | October 2008 | ||||||||
Sean Long | Hull F.C. (for 2010 season) | June 2009 | ||||||||
Lee Gilmour | Huddersfield Giants (for 2010 season) | July 2009 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Steve_Tyrer.jpg/130px-Steve_Tyrer.jpg)
Fixtures and results
Competition | Round | Opponent | Result | Score | Home/away | Venue | Attendance | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friendly | N/A | ![]() | Loss | 26–28 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 4,128 | 27/12/2008 |
Friendly | N/A | ![]() | Win | 26–22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 3,549 | 18/01/2009 |
Friendly | N/A | ![]() | Win | 54–6 | Away | Stobart Stadium Halton | 2,562 | 01/02/2009 |
Super League XIV | 1 | ![]() | Win | 26-14 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 17,009 | 13/02/2009 |
Super League XIV | 2 | ![]() | Win | 6-23 | Away | Galpharm Stadium | 11,338 | 22/02/2009 |
Super League XIV | 3 | ![]() | Loss | 19-20 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,830 | 27/02/2009 |
Super League XIV | 4 | ![]() | Win | 0-4 | Away | Brewery Field | 6,351 | 07/03/2009 |
Super League XIV | 5 | ![]() | Win | 38-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,723 | 13/03/2009 |
Super League XIV | 6 | ![]() | Win | 26-18 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,966 | 20/03/2009 |
Super League XIV | 7 | ![]() | Win | 18-42 | Away | Belle Vue | 6,038 | 29/03/2009 |
Challenge Cup 2009 | 4 | ![]() | Win | 18-22 | Away | Headingley Stadium | 17,689 | 05/04/2009 |
Super League XIV | 8 | ![]() | Win | 12-19 | Away | JJB Stadium | 22,232 | 09/04/2009 |
Super League XIV | 9 | ![]() | Win | 44-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,684 | 13/04/2009 |
Super League XIV | 10 | ![]() | Win | 22-68 | Away | The Jungle | 8,003 | 19/04/2009 |
Super League XIV | 11 | ![]() | Loss | 30-34 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 11,039 | 24/04/2009 |
Super League XIV | 12 | ![]() | Loss | 38-18 | Neutral | Murrayfield Stadium | 29,687 | 02/05/2009 |
Challenge Cup 2009 | 5 | ![]() | Win | 42-8 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 7,176 | 10/05/2009 |
Super League XIV | 13 | ![]() | Win | 28-32 | Away | Stade Gilbert Brutus | 9,065 | 16/05/2009 |
Super League XIV | 14 | ![]() | Win | 22-12 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,359 | 22/05/2009 |
Challenge Cup 2009 | QF | ![]() | Win | 6-66 | Away | Gateshead International Stadium | 4,325 | 30/05/2009 |
Super League XIV | 15 | ![]() | Win | 6-30 | Away | KC Stadium | 12,009 | 05/06/2009 |
Super League XIV | 16 | ![]() | Win | 50-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 9,680 | 12/06/2009 |
Super League XIV | 17 | ![]() | Win | 18-44 | Away | Grattan Stadium | 10,599 | 21/06/2009 |
Super League XIV | 18 | ![]() | Win | 30-0 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,684 | 26/06/2009 |
Super League XIV | 19 | ![]() | Loss | 20-10 | Away | The Willows | 4,808 | 03/07/2009 |
Super League XIV | 20 | ![]() | Win | 26-40 | Away | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 12,075 | 11/07/2009 |
Super League XIV | 21 | ![]() | Loss | 20-22 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,651 | 17/07/2009 |
Super League XIV | 22 | ![]() | Win | 24-42 | Away | Twickenham Stoop Stadium | 4,258 | 25/07/2009 |
Super League XIV | 23 | ![]() | Win | 10-6 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 15,563 | 31/07/2009 |
Challenge Cup 2009 | SF | ![]() | Loss | 14-24 | Neutral | Halliwell Jones Stadium | 10,638 | 09/08/2009 |
Super League XIV | 24 | ![]() | Loss | 26-10 | Away | New Craven Park | 8,976 | 16/08/2009 |
Super League XIV | 25 | ![]() | Win | 12-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,708 | 21/08/2009 |
Super League XIV | 26 | ![]() | Loss | 18-10 | Away | Headingley Carnegie | 19,997 | 04/09/2009 |
Super League XIV | 27 | ![]() | Loss | 12-24 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 8,268 | 11/09/2009 |
Super League XIV Play-offs | Qualifier | ![]() | Win | 15-2 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 6,157 | 19/09/2009 |
Super League XIV Play-offs | Semi-final | ![]() | Win | 14-10 | Home | GPW Recruitment Stadium | 13,087 | 10/10/2009 |
Super League Grand Final | Final | ![]() | Loss | 18-10 | Neutral | Old Trafford | 63,259 | 17/10/2009 |
League table
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 805 | 453 | +352 | 42 | Play-offs |
2 | ![]() | 27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 733 | 466 | +267 | 38 | |
3 | ![]() | 27 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 690 | 416 | +274 | 36 | |
4 | ![]() | 27 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 650 | 516 | +134 | 35 | |
5 | ![]() | 27 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 685 | 609 | +76 | 32 | |
6 | ![]() | 27 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 659 | 551 | +108 | 30 | |
7 | ![]() | 27 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 645 | 702 | −57 | 28 | |
8 | ![]() | 27 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 613 | 660 | −47 | 26 | |
9 | ![]() | 27 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 653 | 668 | −15 | 25 | |
10 | ![]() | 27 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 649 | 705 | −56 | 24 | |
11 | ![]() | 27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 591 | 691 | −100 | 22 | |
12 | ![]() | 27 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 502 | 623 | −121 | 20 | |
13 | ![]() | 27 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 456 | 754 | −298 | 14 | |
14 | ![]() | 27 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 357 | 874 | −517 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners
2009 Squad
As of 29 July 2009:
Number | Nationality | Player name | Position | Weight (kg) | Height (m) | D.O.B. | Previous Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Paul Wellens (VC) | FB | 96 | 1.85 | 27/02/80 | St Helens Academy |
2 | ![]() | Ade Gardner | W | 94 | 1.88 | 26/06/83 | Barrow Border Raiders |
3 | ![]() | Matthew Gidley | C | 94 | 1.86 | 01/07/77 | Newcastle Knights |
4 | C | ||||||
5 | ![]() ![]() | Francis Meli | W | 100 | 1.88 | 27/04/79 | New Zealand Warriors |
6 | ![]() ![]() | Leon Pryce | SO | 98 | 1.91 | 09/10/81 | Bradford Bulls |
7 | ![]() | Sean Long (VC) | SH | 85 | 1.75 | 24/09/76 | Widnes Vikings |
8 | ![]() | Jason Cayless | PR | 106 | 1.93 | 15/01/80 | Sydney Roosters |
9 | ![]() | Keiron Cunningham (C) | HK | 102 | 1.75 | 28/10/76 | St Helens Academy |
10 | ![]() | James Graham | PR | 106 | 1.88 | 10/09/85 | St Helens Academy |
11 | ![]() | Lee Gilmour | SR | 99 | 1.88 | 13/03/78 | Bradford Bulls |
12 | ![]() | Jon Wilkin | SR | 97 | 1.85 | 01/11/83 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
13 | ![]() | Chris Flannery | LF | 100 | 1.86 | 05/06/80 | Sydney Roosters |
14 | ![]() | James Roby | HK | 87 | 1.78 | 22/11/85 | St Helens Academy |
15 | ![]() | Bryn Hargreaves | PR | 103 | 1.83 | 14/11/85 | Wigan Warriors |
16 | ![]() ![]() | Tony Puletua | SR | 110 | 1.92 | 25/06/78 | Penrith Panthers |
17 | ![]() | Paul Clough | SR | 98 | 1.83 | 27/09/87 | St Helens Academy |
18 | ![]() | Kyle Eastmond | SH | 75 | 1.67 | 17/07/89 | St Helens Academy |
19 | ![]() | Chris Dean | C | 86 | 1.80 | 17/01/88 | St Helens Academy |
20 | ![]() | Gareth Frodsham | PR | 100 | 1.89 | 18/12/89 | St Helens Academy |
21 | ![]() | Gary Wheeler | SO | 87 | 1.79 | 30/09/89 | St Helens Academy |
22 | ![]() | Sean Magenniss | SR | 91 | 1.82 | 02/12/89 | St Helens Academy |
23 | ![]() ![]() | Maurie Fa'asavalu | PR | 105 | 1.91 | 12/01/80 | Samoan Rugby Union |
24 | ![]() | Andrew Dixon | LF | 94 | 1.83 | 28/02/90 | St Helens Academy |
25 | ![]() | Jamie Foster | C | 85 | 1.87 | 27/07/90 | St Helens Academy |
26 | ![]() | Andy Yates | PR | 98 | 1.86 | 23/02/90 | St Helens Academy |
27 | ![]() | Jamie Ellis | SH | 85 | 1.79 | 04/10/89 | St Helens Academy |
28 | ![]() | Matty Ashurst | SR | 90 | 1.86 | 01/11/89 | St Helens Academy |
29 | ![]() | Tom Armstrong | W | 92 | 1.90 | 12/09/89 | St Helens Academy |
30 | ![]() | Jonny Lomax | FB | 82 | 1.77 | 04/09/90 | St Helens Academy |
31 | ![]() | Jacob Emmitt | PR | 102 | 1.86 | 04/10/88 | St Helens Academy |
32 | ![]() | Paul Johnson | C | 88 | 1.87 | 13/03/88 | St Helens Academy |
1 - Meli and Puletua won caps for New Zealand before switching to Samoa
2 - Pryce is of Jamaican origin
3 - Fa'asavalu switched his allegiance to England under the residency rule
References
- ^ "St Helens vs. Warrington match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Celtic match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Salford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Castleford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Bradford match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Castleford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Bradford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Celtic match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-26. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Salford match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Warrington match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wakefield match report 2". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Harlequins match report 2". engagesuperleague.co.uk. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan match report 3". superleague.co.uk. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Hull KR match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans match report 2". superleague.co.uk. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Leeds CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Catalans CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Gateshead CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield CC match report". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Huddersfield P-O match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "St Helens vs. Wigan P-O match report". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-10-03. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ^ "Soliola a Saint". saintsrlfc.com. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Hull Snare Long". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Gilmour to join Giants". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Smith Switches to Reds". engagesuperleague.com. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "Cayless quits Saints". skysports.com. 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ^ "Fozzard returns to Saints". superleague.com. 2009-09-20. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
External links
- St Helens' official website
- engage Super League official website