News

St Helens surrendered an 18-6 half-time lead to lose 22-29 away at Wakefield, leaving them with one win from their first three games and lying seventh in the table.

 

Saints, missing injured captain Paul Sculthorpe, Jason Hooper and suspended Jon Wilkin, also lost Jason Cayless just before kick off.

 

Four unanswered second half tries from Ned Catic, Ryan Atkins, Jamie Rooney and Matt Blaymire, and a first half score from Brett Ferres, condemned Saints to a shock defeat.

 

Saints did start strongly with two testing kicks from Sean Long but both were unreachable for Ade Gardner. 

 

The typical flowing passing movements from Saints did not seem to click and it was hard for them to gain momentum.

 

Although Wakefield were the first to post points in the shape of a Jamie Rooney penalty, Saints hit back immediately with superb solo effort from Mike Bennett, who burst through three tackles to score under the posts.  Sean Long kicked the goal.

 

Saints scored again on 22 minutes with a similar try from James Graham after he collected a clever kick from Long.  The conversion from Long gave them a 12-2 lead.

 

Even though Wakefield hit back through Ferres, Saints scored again through Leon Pryce and looked to have taken the game away from Wakefield.

 

But in the second half, Saints’ defence failed to deal with a spirited Wakefield onslaught.

 

Four tries from the home side, and the leadership of Jamie Rooney, sealed a victory for the Yorkshire team.

 

Saints did get a consolation try in the last minute from Ade Gardner, but Long failed to kick the goal.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (6) 29.
Tries: Ferres, Catic, Atkins, Rooney, Blaymire. Goals: Rooney 4.
Drop Goals: Rooney.

St Helens (18) 22.
Tries: Bennett, Graham, Pryce, Gardner. Goals: Long 3.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Blaymire, Fox, Demetriou, Atkins, Tadulala, Rooney,
Jeffries, Watene, Obst, Moore, Elima, MacGillivray, Ferres.
Replacements: P. March, Latu, Lima, Catic.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long,
Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Bennett, Roby.
Replacements: Hargreaves, Hardman, Moore, Fa'asavalu.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)

Attendance: 7,385