First Half

Six minutes in, David Klemmer caught former Saint Rio Osayonwambo-Corkill with a high shot to the right of the sticks. The hosts opted for two points which Jake Carter added to give them an early 2-0 led in Cumbria.

Their lead didn’t last for long though. Three minutes later, Saints shifted the ball from right to left on the halfway line. Debutant Nene Macdonald threw a dummy, brushed off another defender and found Tristan Sailor in support who went over down the left edge for Saints’ first points of the 2026 campaign. Fellow debutant Jackson Hastings converted the try to give Saints a 2-6 lead.

Three minutes later, Saints had a second try. The visitors marched downfield and off the back of a strong carry by Matty Lees, David Klemmer crashed over from close range. Hastings added the extras, 2-12 Saints led.

Saints made it a third try in a six-minute period soon after. Strong carries down the right edge gave the Red V good field position. Towards the end of the set, the ball was moved left and Jack Welsby found Deon Cross who planted the ball down in the corner. Hastings was unable to convert from the touchline, 2-16.

Saints had a fourth two minutes later. The ball was moved through the hands down our left edge, Cross broke down the wing and found Hastings in support on his inside and he scored unopposed. He turned his four-pointer into six with the conversion, 2-22 we led.

From kick off again, Saints had a fifth try. Daryl Clark broke down the middle from inside his own half, he found Sailor in support and he won the race to the try-line under pressure from some covering defence. Hastings added the extras, 2-28.

The visitors lost Captain Lees to injury before adding a sixth try. The Red V moved the ball from left to right under the posts, Sailor finding Kyle Feldt who dove over to score in the corner. Hasting added the conversion from the right touchline, 2-34.

Saints had a seventh try just after the half-hour mark. Saints moved the ball through the hands down the middle of the field, Welsby put Shane Wright through a gap and he scored under the posts. Hastings added another two points, 2-40.

Sailor completed his hat-trick just before the break. Criss cut inside from the left edge and broke downfield, he found Hastings who then found Sailor and he raced away to score to the left of the sticks. Hastings converted again, 2-46.

The Red V had a ninth try in the final minute of the first half. Hastings’ high kick was fumbled by Zarrin Galea under pressure from Cross and Welsby kicked ahead and grounded the ball to score. Hastings added the extras with the final kick of the half, 2-52 Saints led at the break in Cumbria.

⏸️ A strong opening forty minutes by the Saints against Workington in the Challenge Cup#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/DjtEhmrF2I

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 6, 2026

Second Half

Three minutes into the second half, Saints had a tenth try of the evening. Saints kept the ball alive moving it through the hands from left to right with Cross providing the final pass to Feldt who scored in the corner. Hastings again added the extras from the right touchline, 2-58.

Four minutes later, Saints had another try. The visitors got a repeat set on the Workington line and move it from right to left, with Macdonald finding Matt Whitley who scored in the corner. Hastings couldn’t convert, 2-62.

Feldt had his hat-trick 53 minutes in. Saints again moving the ball through the hands down the right edge, Hastings found Sailor, he tipped the ball onto Feldt who powered his way over in the corner. Hastings added the extras, 2-68.

Just before the hour mark, Saints had a thirteenth score of the evening. Again good hands down the left edge saw Cross break, he found Hastings in support on his inside who then scored under the sticks. He added the conversion, 2-74,

Another try quickly followed. Hastings went inside to Welsby down the middle of the field and he went through a gap and scored under the sticks. Hastings added the extras, 2-80.

A ninth Saints player had a try as we headed towards the final ten minutes. Hastings found Walmsley this time who crashed over from close range. Hastings converted, 2-86.

Try scorer number ten scored with ten minutes to go. Joe Shorrocks found George Delaney who broke through the middle of the defence and scored under the posts. Hastings again adding the extras, 2-92.

Saints went the distance just before the full-time siren. Macdonald raced downfield after a quick 20-metre restart. He offloaded to Robertson and his pass was deflected into the hands of Welsby who was able to cross for his hat-trick. Hastings added two more points, 2-98.

😇 The Saints start 2026 with a big win at Workington in the Challenge Cup!#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/6gQWo8wphy

— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 6, 2026

Match Summary

Workington Town Team: Zarrin Galea, Alex Donaghy, Rio Osayonwambo-Corkill, Spencer Fulton, Oscar Doran, Jake Carter, Dom Wear, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Stevie Scholey, Mason Lewthwaite, Tuarae Rawhiti, Jake Bradley.

Interchanges: Callum Farrer, Lucas Castle, Jude Lupton, Delaine Gittens-Bedward.

18th Man: 

Tries: 

Conversions: 

Penalties: Jake Carter (1 from 1)

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: Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, George Delaney, Jake Davies.

18th Man: Owen Dagnall.

Tries: Tristan Sailor (9, 20, 37), David Klemmer (12), Deon Cross (15), Jackson Hastings (17, 59), Kyle Feldt (26, 43, 53), Shane Wright (33), Jack Welsby (40, 61, 78), Matt Whitley (47), Alex Walmsley (67), George Delaney (70)

Conversions: Jackson Hastings (15 from 17)

HT: 2-52

FT: 2-98

Attendance: 4129