A SECOND half rally was in vain as Saints suffered a 41-24 defeat at the hands of Warrington at the Magic Weekend.
The Wolves ran in eight tries to completely overwhelm their opponents and deny Nathan Brown’s side top spot in Super League.
They led 18-0 in the first half and 36-6 early in the second before Saints mustered something of a comeback.
But the damage was done and despite a three try flurry to pull within two scores, Saints never looked at the races.
Saints fielded virtually the same side that beat Bradford 50-0 the week previous with Jordan Turner returning for the injured Adam Swift.
But that consistency in line-up – and performance – was once again found wanting from the kick off.
In fact, Saints produced probably their worst 35 minutes of the season to be 18-0 down.
And to be fair it could have been a lot worse.
Warrington dominated in both defence and attack and their last tackle plays saw Rhys Evans grab a couple with Gene Ormsby and Chris Hill taking the others.
Chris Bridge missing three tricky conversions.
Saints just about hung on in there and Alex Walmsley scored with Orsmby in the sinbin after a professional foul on Jonny Lomax to make it 18-6 at half time.
They should have been buoyant in the second half but it just got worse and worse.
Ryan Atkins, Joel Monaghan and Matty Russell all scored within the first ten minutes before Jordan Turner replied.
Lance Hohaia popped up on the left to reduce the deficit and then Matty Dawson pulled it to within 12.
But a drop goal from Stefan Ratchford and an intercept from Joel Monaghan ended any slim hopes of a comeback.
Saints spirit to fightback under a heavy scoreline was a glimpse of hope for the coming weeks, but after the game Brown alluded they need to be a lot tougher if they want to catch those above them.
As it happened: Match Centre.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Walmsley, Turner, Hohaia, Dawson
Goals: Walsh (4 from 4)
Wolves:
Tries: Ormsby, R. Evans (2), Hill, Atkins, J. Monaghan (2), Russell
Goals: Bridge (4 from 8)
Drop: Ratchford
Penalties:
Saints: 4
Wolves: 7
HT:
FT:
REF: Phil Bentham
ATT: 28,214 (64,552 agg)
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Jordan Turner, 4. Josh Jones, 26. Matty Dawson; 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Luke Walsh; 18. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 25. Anthony Walker, 12. Jon Wilkin, 23. Joe Greenwood, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Subs: 8. Mose Masoe, 11. Sia Soliola, 17. Paul Wellens, 28. Luke Thompson.
Wolves:
1. Matthew Russell; 18. Rhys Evans, 5. Joel Monaghan, 4. Ryan Atkins, 29. Gene Ormsby; 3. Chris Bridge, 6. Stefan Ratchford; 8. Chris Hill, 14. Michael Monaghan, 19. Anthony England, 11. Trent Waterhouse, 12. Ben Westwood, 15. Ben Harrison.
