There is a slogan in the gym at our training facility that says “Never Write Off The Saints”.
It’s homage to the times when just as you think all hope has gone, the players come up with something special.
Well, tonight was one of those nights.
With seven minutes to go the game was gone.
Salford led 24-8 and were completing their sets at 100 per cent.
Saints then produced a comeback that will be talked about for years.
James Roby went over following some superb offloads and then Regan Grace took Theo Fages’ looping pass to spin past Greg Johnson.
Most still expected to see the visitors head home with the points but from the restart Tommy Makinson broke down the centre of the field and within a blink of an eye Percival was coming back inside to put Jonny Lomax in under the posts.
A couple of minutes remained, Lomax missed a drop goal attempt and then Salford played out their set for a draw.
But on the last, Robert Lui kicked the ball, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook plucked the ball out of mid air showed great guile to offload to Matty Smith.
The scrum half then cooly slotted over a drop goal from 40 metres to send the Totally Wicked Stadium insane.
The hush as it left his boot to the outpouring of emotion as he ran 40 metres to celebrate in front of his family will live long in the memory.
No one could have predicted what was to come when both sides went in tied at half time.
Todd Carney had kicked the Devils to a 2-0 lead before Matty Smith produced a sublime bit of skill.
Zeb Taia danced along the line and when it arrived with the scrum half he dummied, and then flew through the defensive line to go over in the corner.
Mark Percival goaled but a crucial error after the hooter had sounded allowed Niall Evalds to touchdown.
In the second Greg Johnson stepped inside to score and then Robert Lui extended the lead as he burrowed over from dummy half.
Evalds then extended the lead with a controversial try and the game was gone.
But as they say, Never Write Off The Saints.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Smith, Roby, Grace, Lomax
Goals: Percival (4 from 6)
Devils:
Tries: Evalds (2), Johnson, Lui
Goals: Carney (4 from 5)
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 9
Devils: 7
HT: 8-8
FT: 25-24
REF: S Mikalauskas
ATT: 10,001
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 5. Adam Swift, 2. Tommy Makinson, 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, 20. Morgan Knowles.
Subs: 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee, 20. Morgan Knowles.
Devils:
5. Niall Evalds; 24. Jake Bibby, 4. Junior Saíu, 22. Kris Welham, 21 Greg Johnson; 6. Robert Lui, 29. Todd Carney; 8. Craig Kopczak, 9. Logan Tomkins, 14. Lama Tasi, 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 15. Ryan Lannon, 13. Mark Flanagan.
Subs: 3. Josh Jones, 16 Olsi Krasniqi, 20. Kris Brinning, 30. James Hasson.
RD: Saints v Salford
Match Action (Bernard Platt)
