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Saints Retain Karalius Cup

19th Jan 2010, 6:00pm

SAINTS took home the Karalius Cup after a 42-26 win over Widnes Vikings at a chilly Stobart Stadium.

 

An entertaining game was always in the balance right until the end - but Saints’ steadfast defence and a late Jamie Ellis’ try brought home the victory.

 

Saints raced to a 22-0 lead thanks to tries from Gary Wheeler, Jamie Foster, Bryn Hargreaves and Sia Soliola.

 

But Widnes fought back and despite a Bryn Hargreaves score went in just eight points down at half time.

 

Both sides traded tries in the second half before Matt Gardner brought Widnes to within 10.

 

And that’s how it stayed as Saints shut the door.

 

Mick Potter split his team with one eye on the Mike Bennett Testimonial against Halifax on Friday.

 

Sia Soliola made his bow in the Red Vee with Gary Wheeler and Jamie Ellis starting at half back. Maurie Fa’asavalu and Bryn Hargreaves were named as starting props.

 

On the bench, Saints fans got the first look at Lee Gaskell, Shaun Magennis, Jack Bradbury, Thomas Makinson, Carl Forster and Warren Thompson.

 

On a cold night at the Halton Stadium, Jamie Ellis got Saints 2010 pre-season campaign under way.

 

And in the first minute Saints won a penalty and on the last Ellis put a kick to the corner but Jamie Foster was out-jumped by Matt Gardner.

 

On the next set Foster and Paul Clough caught Gardner in goal.

 

But on six minutes the pressure told. Maurie Fa’asavalu managed to offload just under the posts to Ellis who put in an excellent kick to the corner. Foster couldn’t get a touch but the ball came back and Gary Wheeler mopped up. Foster short with the extras.

 

On the next set, Chris Flannery took a great ball from Lomax, who had created space with a superb run, and put Foster in. Foster converting his score.

 

Saints were continuing to push and were making significant strides every time they had the ball. On the quarter of an hour mark they won another penalty and Bryn Hargreaves went over following a cute short ball from Keiron Cunningham. Foster converting from in front of the posts.

 

Saints’ next score came from Sia Soliola who showed great pace to slip the defender when Tom Armstrong fed him the ball. The young winger did well to take a cheeky crossfield kick and then feed his centreman. Foster with the extras.

 

Widnes began to press with a couple of penalties and despite Lomax denying them with a superb high take, Dean Thompson burrowed over in the corner after a nice pass. James Webster providing a killer touch in the move. Grady with the conversion.

 

On the half hour mark, the home side were in again when Thompson cut back inside and bamboozled the Saints defence. Grady pulling Widnes back into it.

 

But Saints hit back with a great try from gully 80 yards out. It was a fantastic break from Lomax, who sidestepped the defence and found Chris Flannery backing up. From there Saints had the momentum and Ellis fed Armstrong for a four-pointer.

 

Widnes’ reply was from the top draw and came from within their own half – Thackeray dummying and interchanging with his support to go under the posts.

 

Half Time: Widnes 18 Saints 26

 

Widnes had the early pressure from the kick off and reduced the deficit when a cute kick through seemed to bounce and elude Wheeler; Matt Strong profiting.

 

But Saints replied immediately when a kick from the corner clipped the post and Wheeler atoned for his earlier misfortune. Foster with the extras.

 

Ten minutes in a fantastic move started by Scott Moore and Jamie Ellis saw Chris Dean go over. The ball was fed by a sleight of hand from the hooker, and the resultant move saw Dean increase Saints’ lead. Foster wide with the extras.

 

Widnes continued to push and kept the ball alive in several occasions. And with 20 left, it paid off when good handling and a cute chip saw Matt Gardner score in the corner.

 

On 65 minutes they almost sneaked in again following another kick to the corner.

 

Both sides continued to push in the final few minutes but it was Saints’ strong defence and Jamie Ellis’ late try that sealed the win.

 

Match Summary:

 

Widnes:

Tries: Thompson (2), Thackeray, Strong, Gardner

Goals: Grady (3 from 5)

 

Saints:

Tries: Wheeler (2), Foster, Hargreaves, Soliola, Armstrong, Dean, Ellis

Goals:Foster (5 from 8)

 

Penalties:

Widnes: 7

Saints: 4

 

HT (Sts First): 26-18

 

FT (Sts First): 42-26

 

REF: Ben Thaler

 

ATT: 2034

 

Teams:

 

Widnes:

 

1. James Ford; 2. Danny Crompton, 22. Dean Thompson, 15. Shane Grady, 19. Matt Gardner; 6. Anthony Thackeray, 7. James Webster; 8. Steve Pickersgill, 9. Mark Smith, 10. Jim Gannon, 12. Dave Allen, 11. Lee Doran, 13. Chris Gerrard.

 

Subs: 14. Thomas Coyle, 18. Scott Yates, 21. Matt Strong, 17. Ben Kavanagh, 23. Dave Houghton, 3. Jack Smith, 24. Danny Hulme.

 

Saints:

 

1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Jamie Foster, 3. Chris Dean, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Tom Armstrong; 6. Gary Wheeler, 7. Jamie Ellis; 8. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. Bryn Hargreaves, 11. Andrew Dixon, 12. Chris Flannery, 13. Paul Clough.

 

Subs: 14. Lee Gaskell, 15. Shaun Magennis, 16. Jake Emmitt, 17. Matty Ashurst, 18. Jack Bradbury, 19. Thomas Makinson, 20. Scott Moore, 21. Carl Forster, 22. Warren Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

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• Paul says:
  Well done Saints. Sounds it was a good workout.
• steven says:
  FANTASTIC we have some very good young players
• Natalie Heath :-) says:
  Well Done Saints :)
• Chris Webster says:
  Well done Widnes, and thankyou Saints for the run out as I think if we are going to play top flight rugby, then you are the standard we need to aim for. Good luck Saints for the upcoming season.