News

Close range tries from Paul Wellens and James Graham, alongside excellent defence, put Harlequins to the sword at Knowsley Road.

 

Awful conditions didn’t help flowing Rugby League, but the Challenge Cup holders were always one step ahead to win 32-10.

 

Chris Flannery stood out for the Champions – scoring his first try for the club – and the result means Saints, barring a miracle, will finish in the top two.

 

Fresh from their demolition of Catalans last week, Saints fielded a familiar side with the aim of grabbing the win and maintaining top spot in the league.

 

In two enforced changes, Flannery came in for Mike Bennett and Ste Tyrer replaced the injured Francis Meli.

 

For Harlequins, Sykes came in for Clubb in the centres and Mbu dropped to the bench with Temata taking his place. There was no Knowsley Road return for Ste Bannister.

 

Possession and the use of it was always going to be key on a dank and miserable night at KR and Harlequins gave Saints an early opportunity with a knock on in the centre of the park.

 

And two drives later Jason Cayless steamed into the defence, side stepping on the way to fly under the sticks. Tyrer’s conversion was a formality.

 

On the next set, Flanno took on the ride hand side of the Quins defence and was very unlucky not to break through.

 

Quins came right back when a cheeky kick took Wello over his own try line for a drop out. From the restart, a kick was sent over into the corner – too hard at first – but Sheriffe controlled it luckily with his knee and his face to touch down the loose ball. Henry Paul was well wide with the extras.

 

It was a move that shook Saints to life. A beautiful reverse pass from Leon nearly sent Wello in before a Wilkin score was wiped out for a knock on.

 

Randall then worked some space to sprint clear of the Saints defence but poor pass selection failed to make the best use of the ball.

 

As conditions worsened, so did the rugby. Both Saints and the Quins failed to deal with the wet atmosphere and the swirling wind which made kicking difficult.

 

Then Saints gifted the lead the Quins. Longy combined with Wello who sent a looping ball on the bounce into the hands of Sheriffe who went full length to score. It was unlucky for the reigning Man of Steel, but the winger took the full opportunity to sprint clear of Tyrer to go in. Paul added the easiest of extras.

 

From the restart Thaler gave the away team a penalty and Saints were on the rack again. But poor handling saved the blushes once more.

 

On the half an hour mark Fa’asavalu came on to give added impetus to the attack – and it almost paid off with three sets of six close to the Quins line.

 

And it was James Graham who finally did the damage to draw the scores level in that third set – coming onto a Roby ball at full speed to go under the back dot. Tyrer then took Saints two clear.

 

With a few minutes left, Leon Pryce made the criminal error of not kicking on the last to give the Quins great field position 35 yards out. But stout defence and the smothering of a kick through from Wello snuffed out the danger.

 

Saints went in two up at half time and could count themselves lucky!

 

Into the second half and Saints got stuck into the Quins straightaway through Mo and Roby, but a quick pass to Tyrer wasn’t taken when perhaps he should have done better.

 

A few minutes later, another penalty against Harlequins – the eighth of the evening, put the Saints is good position. Graham, Roby and Wilkin move the ball right before Longy was collared for crossing. Terrible decision and a great chance robbed.

 

Thaler then missed exactly the same offense Saints were punished for; then Wells being in touch before he passed the ball, and as a result, the home side had to drop out.

 

But excellent defence from Gardner cancelled out an overlap on the left.

 

Twelve minutes into the half and the game a mirror image of the first stanza. Poor handling, great defence and chances going begging.

 

But as that paragraph was written, Roby broke through the defence, the ball was worked out to Jammer and the scouser slipped out an excellent ball to Wello who went over. Tyrer made it three from three.

 

A couple of minutes later, the Quins made a hash of clearing the ball – crossing ten yards out and gifting two points to Tyrer. As Ron Hoofe put it: Brian McDermott would be “spitting chips”.

 

On 64 minutes Scott Hill was sinbinned for lying on and from the restart Gidley did the damage, flicked it out of the back to Flannery who scored his first try for the club. Tyrer again 100 per cent with the kick.

 

Fa’asavalu missed a sitter going over the line with eight to go, but that was scant consolation to the Quins as Tyrone Smith was sent to the bin for lying on a few minutes later.

 

Gilmour then secured the points with a try all about power and Tyrer made it six from six.