First Half

Saints took the lead eleven minutes in. Saints forced a Castleford error deep inside their own half and Nene Macdonald tussled with a Tigers player but won the duel to score his first try in Saints colours down the left edge. Fellow new Saint Jackson Hastings slotted over the conversion, 6-0 Saints led.

The hosts had a second try shortly after. Saints were given a six again on the Castleford line and within a tackle they went down the right edge and Harry Robertson breezed through a gap to score. Hastings added his second conversion, 12-0 to the Saints.

Saints had a third try 25 minutes in. A flowing move from right to left ended with Jack Welsby finding Deon Cross who scored in the corner. Hastings was unable to convert from the touchline, 16-0.

The visitors opened their account towards the end of the first half. Castleford went right and Mikaele Ravalawa scored in the corner after collecting an offload. Tom Weaver added the extras, 16-6 Saints led at the break at the BrewDog Stadium.

⏸️ The Saints have the lead after the first half of Matty Lees’ Testimonial Match.#COYS pic.twitter.com/nSZaknwBsn

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) January 24, 2026

Second Half

It was the Red V who grabbed the first points of the second half. Tristan Sailor broke through a gap and he found Shane Wright in support who scored down the right edge. Hastings added the extra two, 22-6 Saints led.

Wright had his second four-pointer of the afternoon soon after. Robertson did well to escape a tackle and was able to find an offload to Wright in support and he strolled over under the posts. Hastings nudged over another two points, 28-6.

Castleford grabbed a second try just before the end. They worked the ball well though the hands from left to right and Ravalawa dove over in the corner for his brace. Weaver couldn’t convert, 28-10 Saints led.

Two late Saints tries completed the game. Saints got the ball to Lewis Murphy down the left edge and he finished in the corner. Sailor took over the kicking duties and nailed it from the touchline, 34-10.

It was Sailor who grabbed the final try of the game late on. Jake Davies broke down the middle and he found Sailor in support and he raced away to score. Whitby added the final points with the conversion, a 40-10 victory for Paul Rowley’s Saints in Matty Lees’ Testimonial.

🙌 The Saints get the win in Matty Lees’ Testimonial Match! #COYS pic.twitter.com/dQNRwpIQFX

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) January 24, 2026

Match Summary

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Kyle Feldt, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Deon Cross, Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings, David Klemmer, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Shane Wright, Matt Whitley, Joe Shorrocks.

Interchanges: George Delaney, George Whitby, Jake Wingfield, Agnatius Paasi, Lewis Murphy, Jake Burns, Owen Dagnall, Jacob Douglas, Jake Davies, Alfie Sinclair, Luca Walsh, Cole Marsh, Tom Humphreys, Billy Keeley.

Tries: Nene Macdonald (11), Harry Robertson (15), Deon Cross (25), Shane Wright (51), Lewis Murphy (76), Tristan Sailor (80)

Conversions: Jackson Hastings (2 from 3), Tristan Sailor (2 from 2), George Whitby (1 from 1)

Castleford Tigers Team: Blake Taaffe, Jason Qareqare, Louis Senior, Darnell McIntosh, Mikaele Ravalawa, Daejarn Asi, Tom Weaver, Renouf Atoni, Liam Hood, George Lawler, Jordan Lane, Alex Mellor, Joe Stimson.

Interchanges: Brock Greacen, Joe Westerman, Chris Atkin, Fletcher Rooney, Brad Singleton, Jenson Windley, Sam Hall, Alfie Lindsay, Jimmy Beckett.

Tries: Mikaele Ravalawa (39, 73)

Conversions: Tom Weaver (1 from 2)

HT: 16-6

FT: 40-10

Attendance: 5422

View the teamsheet in full: Matty Lees Testimonial Teamsheet