Despite a number of enforced changes, Saints battled back from a half-time deficit to defeat Hull KR 36-24 at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
James Roby, Mark Percival, Zeb Taia and Alex Walmsley were all forced to miss out so Justin Holbrook was enforced to make four changes with Aaron Smith, Jack Welsby, James Bentley and Kyle Amor coming in.
The changes didn’t seem to make much difference early on mind as Saints got off to a flyer as Dom Peyroux was set loose by Theo Fages and he dropped the shoulder past the full back to give Lachlan Coote the simplest of finishes for the opener. Coote tagging on the extras for an early 6-0 lead!
Saints were over again in a matter of minutes. This time after great handling from right to left resulted in Fages providing the cut-out pass for Jack Welsby who went over in the corner for his first senior try on only his second senior appearance.
Luke Thompson then made it 16-0 after the England international latched onto an excellent short ball from Morgan Knowles. Coote converted the extras.
Theo Fages added to Saints absentees 20 minutes in as he was forced off through injury and Hull KR, to their credit capitalised scoring three tries in 16 minutes. First Kane Linnett went over in the corner, before winger Will Oakes powered over two minutes later and Linnett sent Rovers into the break ahead after Ryan Shaw kicked all three conversions.
Within the opening five minutes of the second half Saints won a penalty right in front of the sticks and Coote levelled the game at 18-18.
But the dogged Rovers came right back at Saints and after a neat kick through from Josh Drinkwater, Lunt pounced on the ball to give them a shock 18-24 lead.
An end to end game saw Saints march up the other end and this time it was Amor who crashed over from close range levelling the score at 24-24. Coote adding the extras.
A few big hits from Saints forwards got the Totally Wicked crowd rocking and on the hour mark Saints stepped up the pressure with Coote’s kicking game forcing repeat sets.
Our momentum told in the 62nd minute when Smith managed to sneak over from dummy half for his first Saints try of the season and we now lead 30-24.
Saints then looked in control and put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go as direct from the scrum, the ball was fed from left to right and Grace went in at the corner for the easiest of finishes.
Saints march on!
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Coote (5), Welsby (14), Thompson (19), Amor (58), Smith (62), Grace (74).
Goals: Coote (6 from 8)
Starting 13: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Matthew Lees, Aaron Smith, Luke Thompson, James Bentley, Dom Peyroux, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joseph Paulo, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth.
Hull KR:
Tries: Linnett (24,37), Oakes (27), Lunt (50).
Goals: Shaw (4 from 4)
Starting 13: Craig Hall, Ryan Shaw, Jimmy Keinhorst, Ben Crooks, Will Oakes, Josh Drinkwater, Chris Atkin, Mose Masoe, Tommy Lee, George Lawler, Joel Tomkins , Kane Linnett, Weller Hauraki .
Interchanges: Mitch Garbutt , Taioalo Vaivai , Danny Addy, Shaun Lunt.
HT: 16-18
FT: 36-24
REF: T.Grant
ATT: 10,003