THE second of the night’s derby double header saw the ultimate derby match as the Saints Reserves met their rivals at Langtree for the second time this season, writes Graham Henthorne.
As before the Saints ran out easy 46-8 winners maintaining their 100% record in the process.
The opening 20 minutes was a nip and tuck affair with the Saints Regan Grace spurning the only chance. Grace wriggled free down the left but with Ricky Bailey free in support he decided to take it in himself and was tackled.
In fact it was the visitors who took the lead scoring with an overlap on the right.
This proved to be the kick up the backside that the Saints needed as they proceeded to dominate for the remainder of the half.
Olly Davies replied for the Saints to put them into a lead they never relinquished as he was put through a yawning gap by a great Tom Connick pass. He did it the hard way though as he seemingly caught the same disease that has been affecting Saints teams recently, namely running at full backs when you have support outside! He ignored Levy Nzoungou but did manage to beat both full back and the cover to score.
From the restart a sweeping move saw Brad Billsborough caught but as he hit the floor he managed to get the ball away to Olly Davies and in turn to Nzoungou who went in under the sticks.
Direct from the kick off the Levynator made a return appearance. A poor catch found its way to the big prop who dummied his way through the line sprinting 90 metres before being finally caught from behind at the whitewash. From the play the ball the happiest teacher in the land Dave Llewellyn was on hand to stroll over.
There was just time before the break for Connick to cross after some sparkling interpassing with Calvin Wellington.
The second half started as the first ended with the Saints well on top.
Ricky Bailey made a break down the right and was only prevented from scoring by an ankle tap at the last. The ball was swept left outstripping the cover to Connick who dummied his way through a massive hole to the line.
Billsborough then unbelievably failed to gather a delicate Connick grubber over the line on the last and the visitors went straight down the other end to double their score
The game got a bit scrappy but it was the Saints who recovered their poise with three tries in the final nine minutes.
Nzoungou got his brace finishing off Calvin Wellington’s 85 metre run to the line from a spilled pass.
Olly Davies got his brace running straight and true from Billsborough’s offload.
The final say went to Regan Grace as the little winger managed to dummy then squeeze over in the corner.
The outside backs were a constant thorn in the visitor’s side, half backs Billsborough and Connick marshalled the game well after a shaky start and the pack led by Tony Suffolk, Nzoungou and Llewellyn grand their opposite numbers into the ground.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Olly Davies (26 & 75), Levy Nzoungou (29 & 73), Dave Llewellyn (30), Tom Connick (36 & 46), Regan Grace (78).
Goals: Brad Billsborough 6/8.
Wigan:
Tries: Gabriel Fell (20 & 53).
Goals: Liam Marshall 0/2.
Half Time: 22-4
Full Time: 46-8
Teams:
Saints:
1. Ricky Bailey; 2. Dave Eccleston, 3. Lewis Furlong, 4. Calvin Wellington, 5. Regan Grace; 6. Tom Connick, 7. Brad Billsborough; 19. Tony Suffolk, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Tom Whittle, 11. Olly Davies, 12. Dave Llewellyn, 20. Andre Savelio.
Subs: 13. Owen Smith, 14. Brad Pinder, 15. Jordan Gibbons, 16. Kevin Brown, 17. Ben Morris, 22. Levy Nzoungou.
Wigan:
1. Gabriel Fell; 2. Liam Marshall, 3. Liam Paisley, 4. James Worthington, 5. Tom Davies; 6. Lewis Heckford, 7. Josh Ganson; 8. Paddy Jones, 9. Luke Waterworth, 10. Sam Brady, 11. Macauley Davies, 12. Paddy Casey, 13. Caine Barnes.
Subs: 14. Craig Mullen, 15. Dec O’Donnell, 17. Oliver Partington, 18. Sam Adejumo, 19. Joe Pilling, 20. James Barton, 24. Sam Grant.
