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Saints dramatically overturned a 12-point second half deficit to beat Wakefield.

A Gardner double and Paul Wellens’ second saw the Saints squeak home 34-30

With Nick Fozzard being injured for six months, Bryn Hargreaves stepped into the breach with Kyle Eastmond taking his spot on the bench.

Wakefield made three changes to the side that lost heavily at Harlequins last week.

With wind conditions making judging kicks difficult, both sides aimed to exploit the weather.

But once Saints mastered the conditions, Cunningham combined with Pryce to send the stand off over after just six minutes. Long with the extras.

It was a great start to the first Sunday game at Knowsley Road since Salford were beaten 50-28 on August 27, 2000.

Brough then backed up Oliver Wilkes but two excellent tackles managed to dislodge the ball as he was going over.

Saints’ second try was out of the top drawer. Talau scooted up the field before Long was unlucky not to squeeze through a gap. The ball was then worked out to the right were Gidley took on the defence and flipped a great pass to Gardner who then cut inside and fed Paul Wellens. Long pinpoint with the conversion.

But back came Wakefield with a strong run from Watene, who went over from close range. Brough tagged on the extras.

On 22 minutes, Ade Gardner took an excellent high ball from Rooney to quash what could have been a promising position for Wakefield.

Obst then burrowed over and Brough added the conversion on the last tackle to bring it level.

Saints went close on 32 minutes when Long took a ball from Meli but the scrum half was unlucky not to keep hold of the ball.

James Graham then went one better with a typical bulldozing run under the sticks. Long made it a six pointer.

But Wakefield came back once again through Ferres. Brough levelled it up once again as the hooter sounded.

Half Time: Saints 18 Wakefield 18

Saints had the first chance of the second half, when Cunningham looked to have gone close just eight minutes into the second 40. But he was adjudged to have knocked on.

But on Wakefield’s next set of six, Brough dabbed through on the last and Rooney touched down. Brough with the extras.

And Brough repeated the trick once again for Gleeson to touch down moments later.

It was a blow to Saints’ chances, but they didn’t let their heads drop and after battering the Wakefield line they finally broke through.

Following two chances yards from the Wakefield line, the men in Red Vee did it from distance. Paul Wellens broke through the line and with options either side of him, he chose Gardner who made no mistake. Long 100 per cent with the extras.

Then, a few moments later, Gids flipped a sublime ball out for Gardner to notch up his second in the corner.

Saints’ winner came straight out of the ‘never say die’ bracket. On the last, Longy chipped over and managed to get a second dab on it to Meli who passed inside for Wellens to go over. Simply breathtaking! Long with the extras.

And with a minute to go, Gardner made an excellent tackle to stop Luke George going in to firmly justify the Cumbrian his man-of-the-match award.

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Pryce, Wellens (2), Graham, Gardner (2)

Goals: Long (5 from 6)

Wakefield:

Tries: Watene, Obst, Ferres, Rooney, Gleeson

Goals: Brough (5 from 5)

Penalties:

Saints: 7

Wakefield: 3

HT (Sts First): 18-18

FT (Sts First): 34-30

ATT: 10,777

REF: Ian Smith

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 21. Paul Clough, 13. Paul Sculthorpe.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 15. Mike Bennett, 24. Kyle Eastmond, 26. Gareth Frodsham.

Wakefield:

21. Scott Grix; 5. Paul Reilly, 19. Sean Gleeson, 4. Ryan Atkins, 26. Luke George; 6. Jamie Rooney, 7. Danny Brough; 8. Adam Watene, 14. Sam Obst, 18. Oliver Wilkes, 11. Brett Ferres, 24. Dale Ferguson, 25. Richard Moore.

Subs: 10. Danny Sculthorpe, 12. Duncan MacGillivray, 16. Ricky Bibey, 17. Kevin Henderson.