SAINTS final home game of the season ended in a disappointing 46-12 defeat to the Auld Enemy, writes Graham Henthorne.
Injuries and call-ups to the 20’s robbed Coach Derek Traynor of some of his more illustrious names, enabling Tommy Holland and Chris Carr to make their debuts, but there was still enough talent on the park to have won the game.
The Saints started the brighter with some astute kicking from Lewis Sheridan and great kick chase from Lewis Foster forcing the visitors into a drop out from under their own posts.
From the restart drives from Matt Cooke and Adam Hesketh put the Saints on the attack and when Tom Roughley grubbered behind the line Connor Dwyer won the fight to take the ball and touchdown.
However, from the kick off a mix up on the line allowed the ball to go dead and the Saints were immediately under pressure.
Three repeat sets later and the defence finally cracked allowing the winger in.
The visitors then put the Saints under relentless pressure with repeat set after repeat set and two more tries ensued.
With seven minutes to the break Lewis Galbraith expertly diffused a grubber behind his own sticks managing to get back into the field of play. From the play the ball Leon Tatlock threatened to go the length of the field only to be ankle tapped from behind with 20 metres to go. The ball was lost on the next tackle leaving the Saints 10 behind at the break but still in with a shout.
The teams traded tries in the opening 10 minutes with the Saints scoring a blinder. Foster, Sheridan and Corey Lee spread the ball left and Galbraith rounded his opposite number with ease before handing off the cover and running around to make Fozzard’s conversion easier.
Injuries added to the Saints woes and as the match wore on the fact that three players were backing up from Friday’s U20’s playoff match meant that the Saints wilted in the heat.
Four tries in the final quarter gave the score a slightly lop-sided look but the Saints can’t complain.
Whilst there was effort aplenty, especially from Tatlock, Foster and Chris Carr, there was a distinct lack of composure which ultimately cost the game.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Lewis Galbraith, Connor Dwyer
Goals: Matty Fozzard 2
Wigan:
Tries: Lewis Tierney 2, Joe Burgess, Dom Manfredi, George Williams, Sam Brooks 2, Jamie Doran
Goals: Ryan Hampshire 7
Half Time: 6-16
Full Time: 12-46
Teams:
Saints:
1. Corey Lee; 2. Ben Parry, 3. Matt Wood, 4. Lewis Galbraith, 5. Leon Tatlock; 6. Tom Roughley, 7. Lewis Sheridan; 8. Matt Cooke, 9. Lewis Foster, 16. Adam Hesketh, 11. Matty Fozzard, 12. Connor Dwyer, 13. Chris Webster.
Subs: 10. Brad Ashurst, 15. Greg Richards, 17. Tommy Holland, 19. Chris Carr.
Wigan:
1. Lewis Tierney; 2. Mike Scrivens, 3. Josh Rooney, 4. Joe Burgess, 5. Dom Manfredi; 6. Ryan Hampshire, 7. George Williams; 18. Ben Austin, 9. Callum Wright, 10. Ryan Sutton, 11. Grant Beecham, 12. Rhys Pugsley, 13. Robert Lever.
Subs: 14. Sam Brooks, 15. Chris Lowe, 16. Jonny Brown, 17. Jamie Doran.
