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Reserves Make it Grand Finals at the Treble for the Saints
St Helens Reserve Team 32 v 24 Huddersfield Giants Reserve Team
By Graham Henthorne, Team Manager
The Reserves finally made it past a resilient Huddersfield Giants to set up a rematch against the Auld Enemy and a chance for revenge for last weeks humiliating defeat.
The Giants had sneaked past the much fancied Harlequins side on their own pitch, and boosted by First team squad members Leroy Cudjoe and Michael Lawrence, they were never going to be pushovers.
Things started well for the Saints as they took the lead through Andrew Dixon. Chris Dean drove the ball to the sticks and from the play the ball Lee Cunliffe found Dixon who burst through the tackle to score. Jamie Foster kicked the first of his six goals and was on target again ten minutes later to give full value to Dean McGilvrays’ try. Good work from Danny Cooper gave McGilvray the chance to pirouette around the cover.
But the game was turned on its head as the Giants found their feet and scored three tries in a fruitful ten minute period. Thankfully only one was converted leaving the Saints still in touch.
Sometimes you need a little bit of luck in cup games and having seen the Giants score from a lucky ricochet the Saints got a piece for themselves. Kyle Eastmond grubbered for the corner on the last only for the ball to bounce invitingly off a Giants foot. Quick as a flash Alex McClurg pounced picking up the ball and placing it over the try line to regain the lead going into the break.
The Giants certainly knew they were in with a shout in this game and came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. In fact there was some desperate defence needed from the Reserves to keep the line intact as the Giants pressed for three repeat sets.
The line was finally pierced on 52 minutes as the big prop took advantage of some poor tackling to force his way over. The conversion and two further penalties for offside and crossing put the Giants in the driving seat six points to the good.
The Giants were playing with renewed vigour now and the Saints were again hard pressed to keep them out until a long ball out wide was intercepted by Kyle Eastmond who scampered 95 metres to score under the posts. Foster goaled and the scores were level again.
The Saints nosed in front with ten minutes to go as Jamie Foster coolly slotted a penalty from 40 metres after Kyle had been obstructed going for his own chip.
Kyle’s interception had galvanised the Saints and despite the best efforts of the Giants the Saints were determined to hang on to the precarious lead.
That was until Kyle again broke Giants hearts as he knocked down an attempted pass, scooped up the loose ball and ran it in from 80 metres this time. Foster’s majestic touchline conversion from the wrong side kept his 100% record intact and gave the side the leeway to relax a little for the final five minutes.
So, it’s them again next Saturday. This side is capable of overturning the odds and winning the title but will have to be at its best for the full 80 to achieve it. As long as the rest of the side can take the example given in attack and defence by Gary Wheeler and Jake Emmitt then you can rest assured the Final will be a closely fought affair.
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St Helens Reserve Team
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Huddersfield Giants Reserve Team
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St Helens Reserve Team:
Tries: Dean McGilvray, Kyle Eastmond 2, Andrew Dixon, Alex McClurg.
Goals: Jamie Foster 6.
Huddersfield Giants Reserve Team:
Tries: Jermaine McGilvray 2, Luke Roberts, Chris Clough.
Goals: Ed Barber 4.
Half Time: 18-14
Full Time: 32-24
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