SAINTS effectively secured third place in the league table with an efficient 30-10 win over an as usual difficult to beat Wildcats team, writes Graham Henthorne.
Building on last week’s better defensive display the Saints up and at ‘em defence ultimately proved too much for the home team even though they took the lead in the tenth minute.
From that moment on the Saints pressure forced error after error as the home side tried to come away from their line.
Ben Parry got the Saints underway stepping back inside the cover after quick hands had stretched the defence.
The Wildcats coughed up the ball on their own 30 metre line but Dom Speakman’s try scoring pass to Connor Dwyer was ruled forward.
The second row didn’t let it affect him, however, as he charged over the line minutes later after yet another home knock on. Matty Fleming was held short but from the play the ball good offloading between Adam Saunders and Jack Ashworth put Dwyer in.
The Saints increased their lead on the half hour getting the best reward for their best defensive effort of the half. Tigerish tackling had restricted the home side to kicking from their own 20 giving the Saints great field position. Dwyer broke through the line too it to the full back then put the supporting Matty Fozard in at the side of the posts.
The Saints have been guilty of starting some second periods slowly giving the opposition encouragement but not this time as they continue where they left off in the first.
Great drives from the forwards resulted in Dwyer being held up over the line but from the play the ball Adam Hesketh continued his rich vein of from charging onto the pass and scoring an easy try.
The Wildcats stand-off took advantage of a succession of penalties and a momentary lapse of concentration to close the gap, side stepping inside the Saints line to score.
But that was it for the home side as the Saints turned the screw scoring twice more but being held over the line on three other occasions.
Parry got his second of the afternoon as the home defence finally succumbed on the Saints third repeat set. Dom Speakman was held up, James Tilley held short but quick hands finally produced the overlap for the winger to score.
Great final tackle grubber kicking from Dave Hewitt and Dan Abram coupled with fine support tackling forced the Wildcats deeper into their own half.
The icing was firmly put on the cake with minutes left as Greg Richards showed remarkable pace to burst through the line striding around a decidedly stationery full back from 40 metres out.
Richards, Tilley and Chris Webster again set the platform but the stand out player, continuing his run of good form, was Connor Dwyer.
The Saints finish their regular season with the home derby against the fourth placed Wolves before entering the play offs.
Match Summary:
Wakefield:
Tries: Jamahl Hunte, Scott Lee.
Goals: Josh Kittrick.
Saints:
Tries: Ben Parry 2, Greg Richards, Connor Dwyer, Matty Fozard, Adam Hesketh.
Goals: Dave Hewitt 3.
Half Time: 22-4
Full Time: 30-10
Teams:
Wakefield:
1. Brandon Conway; 2. Jamahl Hunte, 3. Curtis MacDonald, 4. Sam Doherty, 5. Tom Johnson; 6. Scott Lee, 7. Josh Kittrick; 8. Ben Shulver, 9. Josh Murphy, 10. Reece Trout, 11. Brad Day, 12. Jack Walton, 13. Corbyn Kilday.
Subs: 14. Dan Maskill, 15. James Healy, 16. Tom Rogers, 17. Jack Teanby.
Saints:
1. Adam Saunders; 2. Lewis Galbraith, 4. Jack Ashworth, 3. Matty Fleming, 5. Ben Parry; 6. Dave Hewitt, 7. Dan Abram; 8. Greg Richards, 9. Dom Speakman, 10. Chris Webster, 11. Olly Davies, 12. Connor Dwyer, 13. James Tilley.
Subs: 14. Matty Fozard, 15. Adam Hesketh, 16. Tom Calland, 17. Joe Ryan.
