Saints secured their third win in four games with a 26-10 victory over Widnes Vikings.
Mark Percival crossed the 500th point barrier for the club with a try and three goals whilst there were good performances off the bench from Luke Thompson, Morgan Knowles and Luke Douglas.
The win was built on solid defence that needed to be on its mettle from the off.
Charly Runciman fumbled over the line after just four minutes as Widnes made a lively start.
Saints then defended four sets in a row and it wasn’t until the tenth minute that they managed to get into their opponent’s 20.
Widnes continued to press and arguably should have been in front by the time Saints hit them with a cracker.
The ball was moved with pace down the left, Regan Grace cut back inside and then offloaded for Mark Percival to go under the posts.
And moments later Saints forced an error from Widnes in midfield and provider turned scorer for 10-0.
Grace beating Jack Johnson for pace.
Percival went close on 33 minutes as he took a bullet from Jonny Lomax and moments later the fullback just couldn’t find Grace on the wing.
10-0 at half time would have probably pleased Justin Holbrook considering Widnes’ start – but he would have been less than impressed with the opening stages of the second.
Saints looked fairly comfortable until a series of penalties, a couple harsh from a home point of view, gave the Vikings the perfect platform for Ryan Ince to score in the corner.
But his side hit back through big Alex Walmsley.
After Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was held up – on his 300th career appearance – the big prop crashed over from close range.
Saints then turned up the heat and put the game out of reach; Ryan Morgan flying over on 60 minutes to extend the lead further following a slick passing move.
Zeb Taia was held up over the line as the game entered its final stages, then Danny Craven ensured the home side would have a few jitters with a try under the posts.
But Theo Fages, who had been lively throughout, put the game to bed when he charged down a kick, waited an eon for it to drop, and then put it down to the right of the posts.
Mark Percival capping a man of the match display with his third conversion – his 500th point in the red vee.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Percival, Grace, Walmsley, Morgan, Fages
Goals: Percival (3 from 5)
Vikings:
Tries: Ince, Craven
Goals: Craven (1 from 2)
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 13
Vikings: 9
HT: 10-0
FT: 26-10
REF: S Mikalauskas
ATT: 10,474
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 28. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 36. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Subs: 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 20. Morgan Knowles, 24. Danny Richardson.
Vikings:
21. Jack Johnson; 28. Ryan Ince, 17. Stefan Marsh, 4. Charly Runciman, 2. Corey Thompson; 40. Rangi Chase, 33. Aaron Heremaia; 15. Gil Dudson, 31. Jordan Johnstone, 10. Jack Buchanan, 12. Matt Whitley, 11. Chris Houston, 13. Hep Cahill.
Subs: 20. Manase Manuokafoa, 23. James Chapelhow, 25. Tom Olbison, 32. Danny Craven.
Match Action (Bernard Platt)
