TOM Armstrong bagged a hat-trick as Saints completed their Engage Super League regular season campaign with a 34-16 win at Quins RL.
It was a tale of two halves as they recovered from a 12-4 deficit to finish the year off with a victory.
Saints were 12-4 down at half time as Quins punished indiscretions and got a fair slice of luck.
Two forward passes and an ankle tap as the hooter went stopped Royce Simmons’ men imposing themselves on a game they’d pretty much created the main chances in.
Tom Armstrong put Saints ahead but ill-discipline handed Quins the territory for Karl Pryce to send in Karl Temata and then bag one himself.
In the second half, another try went begging as Saints passed up a four on two overlap before Lee Gaskell produced a piece of brilliance to chip through and get the ball down.
Armstrong’ second and third sandwiched Scott Hale’s first in Saints’ colours and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook scored against his former employers to complete a satisfying day’s work.
Saints fielded a full British 17 with 14 of their players coming through the club’s Academy system.
Lee Gaskell and Jonny Lomax paired up once again in the half backs whilst Gary Wheeler made his first start since he was injured at Wigan on Good Friday. Scott Moore deputised for James Roby who was rested after playing in all of Saints matches this season.
Carl Forster made his debut off the bench.
For Quins, the day was all about Rob Purdham and his final appearance for the club before he heads up to Cumbria.
After a pretty tepid opening 10 minutes a massive high ball was knocked on by Luke Dorn giving Saints prime position.
And they didn’t disappoint, pinging the ball left for Tom Armstrong to get over in the corner.
Quins responded on their next attack – a chip to the corner was knocked sideways by Karl Pryce and Karl Temata charged to the line. Gale converting to make it 6-4.
Saints should have taken the lead moments later when Gary Wheeler sidestepped the defence to send in Tom Armstrong, but the winger’s pass was too strong for Paul Wellens to take in.
And on 28 minutes Quins forged further ahead after weathering more Saints pressure. This time the ball was kept alive and Karl Pryce increased the lead – following a wonder tackle on Andy Ellis to quell the original attack.
Tom Armstrong had a second chalked off for a forward pass as the half entered its final stages and Wellens took a massive bomb.
Saints could have scored as the hooter went as Wheeler broke from within his half, but Lee Gaskell was just caught a couple of feet from the line.
Saints forced a drop out in the opening ten minutes of the second half and then finally made the pressure pay.
After banging on the door, Lee Gaskell chipped ahead and with the Quins defence standing still he touched down – Makinson with the conversion.
Within minutes Saints were ahead – a sweeping move again involving Wellens and Wheeler which Armstrong converted.
Makinson adding the extras off the touchline.
Scott Hale burrowed over for his first in Saints colours before Tom Armstrong finished off a mazy Wellens run.
Quins’ pulled one back through Jamie O’Callaghan but Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook restored the advantage and gave Saints the two points.
Match Summary:
Quins:
Tries: Temata, Pryce, O’Callaghan
Goals: Gale (2 from 3)
Saints:
Tries: Armstrong (3), Makinson, Hale, McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Goals: Makinson (5 from 6)
Penalties:
Quins: 8
Saints: 10
HT: 4-12
FT: 34-16
REF: Tim Roby
ATT: 3546
Teams:
Quins:
1. Luke Dorn; 5. Chris Melling, 2. Jamie O’Callaghan, 31. Karl Pryce, 23. Mark Calderwood; 24. Dan Sarginson, 6. Luke Gale; 17. Danny Ward, 7. Chad Randall, 8. Karl Temata, 12. Chris Bailey, 13. Rob Purdham, 3. Tony Clubb.
Subs: 9. Andy Ellis, 10. Oliver Wilkes, 14. Jason Golden, 18. David Williams.
Saints:
1. Paul Wellens; 28. Tom Makinson, 3. Michael Shenton, 17. Gary Wheeler, 24. Tom Armstrong; 25. Lee Gaskell, 20. Jonny Lomax; 10. James Graham, 14. Scott Moore, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 12. Jon Wilkin, 18. Matty Ashurst, 16. Paul Clough.
Subs: 19. Andrew Dixon, 26. Carl Forster, 27. Nathan Ashe, 29. Scott Hale.
