St Helens won their only pre-season outing ahead of the 2022 season thanks to a 16-6 triumph over the Leigh Centurions in Alex Walmsley's testimonial Match.
- Walmsley himself would kick the final points of the night from in front of the sticks.
After a hard-fought first half where Walmsley came close to scoring twice, only halted by some stern Leigh defence over the line, Saints took the lead just before half time.
A break by new hooker Joey Lussick on debut saw him find Agnatius Paasi, who was stopped just short.
From that break, the hosts worked the ball left where Tommy Makinson strolled over in the left corner. Lewis Dodd’s missed with the conversion attempt to leave Saints 4-0 ahead at the break.
After a number of changes at the interval, the Saints lead was extended three minutes into the second half.
Youngster Jon Bennison made a break down field cutting in from the left wing and off the back of it Saints threw the ball through the hands from left to right, which ended with new signing Konrad Hurrell finding Josh Simm who squeezed over in the right corner. Dodd added the extra two to make it 10-0.
The visitors then went close after a break down the left from Kieran Dixon, however Saints were able to get numbers back to stop the attack.
But Leigh did grab their first try with 15 minutes to go. Joe Wardle fended off a Saints attempted tackle before stepping the full back to score. Ben Reynolds added the extras to make it 10-6.
The win was sealed minutes later, though. Saints were awarded a penalty in midfield, and on the first tackle another debutant James Bell, against his former club, stepped a set of defenders before flying over the tryline to score against his old club.
Walmsley stepped up and slotted over the conversion in front of a roaring West Stand to seal a 16-6 victory.
Elsewhere on Friday night, Salford Red Devils retained the Colin Dixon Memorial Trophy with a 34-10 victory over Betfred Championship side Halifax Panthers.
And there was a 60-12 win for Hull KR at Dewsbury Rams.
