OUR review of the 2016 season continues with April to June.
Please note that some of the Youtube links below may contain advertising that is no longer relevant.
April
Saints launched a special edition Autism Awareness Shirt for the Magic Weekend at the beginning of the month and would later hand over more than £10,000 to St Helens Autism Support as a result of sales and auction.
A late Marc Sneyd drop goal gave Hull FC a 17-16 win at Langtree Park but Saints bounced back in real style beating Warrington Wolves 25-22 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Saints were missing a number of players due to injury but produced their best performance of the season – Jake Spedding making his debut.
Sadly, two tries in five second half minutes did the damage after Saints side fought back from 10-0 down against Catalans Dragons – the French outfit coming away with 30-12.
Next up were Leeds Rhinos and the return of Jonny Lomax… and what a return it proved to be.
The full back grabbed a brace on his return as his side edged a 38-34 blockbuster at Langtree Park – scoring with his first touch of the game and sparking wild celebrations both on and off the pitch.
May & June
Saints then travelled to Castleford Tigers for their now annual bonkers game at the Mend-a-Hose Stadium. Joe Greenwood scored twice in a 30-20 win that was as end to end as it usually is!
Hull FC were next up in the Challenge Cup – but it was one to forget as the eventual winners won 47-18.
Saints avenged their earlier heavy loss at Salford Red Devils with a 34-20 victory – a result that took them to fourth in the table. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Mark Percival, Dominique Peyroux, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages and Kyle Amor all scoring in the rout.
The 19s beat Wigan 37-16 too to continue their undefeated start to the season whilst the Reserves matched that feat with a 32-10 win at Langtree Park.
Newcastle’s Magic Weekend was next on the agenda but it was anything but magical as Saints lost 48-20 to Huddersfield Giants. It proved to be a landmark game for Calvin Wellington as he made his debut, and the club, as although Saints lost their next three matches to Hull FC 32-24, Warrington Wolves 26-4 and Catalans Dragons 33-16 there was an obvious change in attitude and effort from the lads.
And so it proved as a 48-16 win over Hull KR at Langtree Park sparked a run that would see them make the top four – and the semi-finals.
Adam Swift scored four tries in the victory that could have been so different if the Robins had taken a pass and scored when leading 12-0.
Our review continues tomorrow with July to September.
