THE U18s completed the nap hand for the Saints over the Vikings with a fifth and final victory at all age groups in the past 10 days – winning 50-6, writes Graham Henthorne.
After a dominant display against the Tigers in the last outing Coach Derek Traynor was looking for the same at the Stobart Stadium.
A deep kick off from Lewis Charnock and a great defensive set saw the Saints pick up possession on half way and four tackles later a show and go from Lewis Sheridan took him through the line to the full back. His inside ball found the supporting Luke Thompson for a stroll to the sticks.
It was Thompson’s good run and some quick hands to the left which set up Lewis Galbraith to dive over in the corner for the Saints second.
Poor tackling gave the home side hope but a dummy at the play the ball on the line after drives from Brad Ashurst and Charnock saw Matty Fozard score against his home town.
The game deteriorated for a spell before two tries in five minutes either side of half time put the game to bed as a contest.
A great dart blind from Tom Roughley caught the defence sleeping and Galbraith drew the winger in before setting Jamie Tracey away. The winger walked the tightrope of the line before passing back inside to Sheridan to score.
On the whistle Greg Wilde had a try disallowed for offside from Sheridan’s fumbled high kick.
The Saints were quick out of the blocks again as Tom Roughley finished a sweeping move. Corey Lee’s short ball set Sheridan free and he in turn fed Roughley to go the final 30 to the posts.
The Vikings had a try disallowed for a offside and the Saints punished them mercilessly. Corey Lee broke through the line offloading to Sheridan for the try after good drives from Matt Cook and Greg Richards.
The crowd were finally treated to some aggression from the Saints as first Andrè Savelio and then Ben Parry rattled the teeth of the Viking ball carriers, with Parry forcing the knock on.
The game was threatening to peter out tamely but three tries in the final ten minutes gave the crowd some cheer.
Firstly Galbraith ran a wide arc through the line to score his second before Adam Hesketh scored a well deserved try, his first in the red vee.
The last action saw Fozard break the line, feed Sheridan who returned the compliment to his hooker as he was caught by the cover for a great try.
Scoring nine tries and racking up 50 points away from home can’t be bad but a measure of the character of the side was summed up by Captain Ashurst after the match who was less than satisfied with his team’s performance.
There were glimpsed cameos from many. Sheridan had a hand in many tries, the pack worked hard as ever but none more so than Luke Thompson who always seems to give of his best.
Match Summary:
Widnes Vikings U18s:
Tries: Jack White.
Goals: Tom Gilmore.
Saints U18s Team:
Tries: Lewis Galbraith 2, Lewis Sheridan 2, Matty Fozard 2, Adam Hesketh, Luke Thompson, Tom Roughley.
Goals: Lewis Charnock 4, Matty Fozard 3.
Half Time: 22-6
Full Time: 50-6
Teams:
Widnes Vikings U18s:
1. Danny Stapleton; 2. Kyle Ross, 3. Nathan Fernyhough, 4. Dean Ainsworth, 5. Dave Bowen; 6. Jack White, 7. Tom Gilmore 8. Lewis Whitty, 9. Ste Ball, 10. Alex Tague, 11. Liam Orme, 12. Jason Blackmore, 13. Lewis Hulme.
Subs: 14. Jack Buck, 15. Andy Wainwright, 16. Sam McGrory, 17. Ryan O’Brien.
St Helens U18s Team:
1. Corey Lee; 2. Ben Parry, 3. Greg Wilde, 4. Lewis Galbraith, 5. Jamie Tracey; 6. Jordan Heaton, 7. Lewis Sheridan; 8. Brad Ashurst, 9. Matty Fozard, 16. Adam Hesketh, 11. Luke Thompson, 12. Lewis Charnock, 13. Andrè Savelio.
Subs: 14. Tom Roughley, 15. Brandon Lewis, 10. Matt Cook, 17. Greg Richards.
