Event of the Day: St Helens versus Castleford Tigers

Our event of the day is the Super League match between St Helens and Castleford Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium in Saint Helens. This is the first of 23 rounds of rugby league games in the regular season in which 11 English teams and one from France (Catalans Dragons) will fight to reach the Super 8s - the next phase en route to a Super League title. St Helens have the second most Super League trophies, having won six so far (the last in 2014), and are behind only the current champion Leeds Rhinos who have eight titles. The Saints also have the most final appearances (11), partly thanks to their five consecutive runners-up finishes from 2007 to 2011.
The Tigers have reached the Grand Final once, and that was last season when they lost 24-6 in October to the Rhinos. That was the first time in 91 years that Castleford ended the league competition in top position. On their way to a title deciding match last year, the Tigers beat the Saints at home in a dramatic semi-final clash. Castleford came out on top 23-22 after an extra time drop goal from the scrum-half Luke Gale. Utility back Jy Hitchcox and loose forward Alex Foster are absent for the visitors. Saints’ new captain, hooker James Roby, will make his 400thappearance for the club. It should be an exciting return to Super League action tonight at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Big Bash League 2nd semi-final match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Melbourne Renegades at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The Strikers completed the group stage in second place with 14 points, while the Renegades came third with 12 points. Adelaide were victorious by 26 runs the last time the sides met, 10 days ago in Melbourne. Also in cricket, it’s Day 3 of the 1st Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. In the Women’s Big Bash League second semi-final, the Sydney Sixers play against the Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval. It’s the second day of the Maybank Championship Malaysia at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam; and day 2 of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s Day 5 of the St. Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy at the Sibur Arena of Dynamo Tennis Club in Saint Petersburg. In the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. In the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets face off with the San Jose Sharks at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus; while the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Washington Capitals at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Super League