SAINTS showed all the spirit and battling qualities that took them to a Championship last season in a 21-14 victory over Castleford Tigers.
Tenacious in defence with all hands to the pump at times, they turned away attack after attack and even scored when Kyle Amor was sinbinned in the second half.
It was that attitude and commitment for the cause – after a week of such emotion – that saw them top the Super League table.
Keiron Cunningham was forced to make one change in his starting 13 through injury – Jordan Turner missing out with concussion.
Josh Jones moved into the centres to cover whilst Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook stepped off the bench and into the loose-forward berth.
Castleford had the better of the early stages – a break down the right-hand side finally being quelled on the left by Atelea Vea.
Saints toiled until Jon Wilkin’s high bomb was knocked on by Jordan Tansey on ten minutes.
Greenwood and Amor went close but fast hands saw Adam Swift for his first of the season.
Five minutes later Castleford got into Saints’ 20 following a handling error – but they pushed the pass with the line begging.
The visitors continued to force chances from Saints’ errors and had one chalked off by the video referee for being held up over the line and another for a forward pass.
Cunningham’s men had played the majority of the opening 30 minutes in their own half – but looked dangerous on the break and should have done better when Percival found space on the left.
And the centre had one chalked off for a knock on on 34 minutes.
Saints weren’t going to give one up though and onceTravis Burns forced a drop out, Jonny Lomax’ dancing feet broke the line and he found Tommy Makinson in acres of space.
10-0 to the good Saints needed a solid start to the second half – and they got it.
In the 42nd minute, a clearing kick was fielded by Justin Carney and he inexplicably overthrew a pass in his own twenty that Josh Jones scooped up to make it 14-0.
Saints should have turned the screw further in the moments after increasing their lead and they were punished.
A simple short side pass saw Justin Carney evade the cover defence in the 48 minute to cut the advantage to ten points.
Three minutes later Gale chipped to the corner and Carney grabbed his second – although there was more than a hint of offside in the score.
That hint being a couple of yards.
If that decision seemed harsh then the one that saw Kyle Amor given ten minutes was deemed, by the home fans anyway, a lot worse – the big man sinbinned for a dangerous tackle on Tansey.
Saints were annoyed and it showed. They put in some big hits and when given then chance scored again.
And it was a piece of genius from Mark Percival.
Fed the ball a few metres out and under severe pressure, he got his body in a wonderful position to put down right in the corner.
Saints defended two sets on their line and then Walmsley – who was outstanding all night – cleared the lines.
That burst and more solid defence set Saints up back in Cas’ 20 and Jon Wilkin duly dropped a goal.
Cas never gave up though and were rewarded when Luke Gale’s reverse kick was collected by Tansey under the posts.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Swift, Makinson, Jones, Percivial
Goals: Percival (2 from 4)
Drop: Wilkin
Tigers:
Tries: Carney (2), Tansey
Goals: Gale (1 from 2)
Penalties:
Saints: 6
Tigers: 7
HT: 10-0
FT: 21-14
REF: Richard Silverwood
ATT: 10,066
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 17. Mark Percival, 4. Josh Jones, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Travis Burns, 12. Jon Wilkin; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 14. Alex Walmsley, 21. Joe Greenwood, 11. Atelea Vea, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Subs: 8. Mose Masoe, 15. Mark Flanagan, 18. Luke Thompson, 19. Greg Richards.
Tigers:
22. Jordan Tansey; 20. Denny Solomona, 23. Michael Channing, 4. Michael Shenton, 5. Justin Carney; 21. Liam Finn, 7. Luke Gale; 8. Andy Lynch, 17. Scott Moore, 10. Grant Millington, 11. Oliver Holmes, 16. Junior Moors, 13. Nathan Massey.
Subs: 9. Adam Milner, 12. Matt Cook, 15. Ryan Boyle, 24. Mike McMeeken.