On This Day: Wello bags four tries – 2010

Each day whilst we are all in Lockdown we will recall a famous Saints moment from the current day thanks to Saints Heritage Society.

25 June 2010

Super League round 19: St Helens 58-34 Salford City Reds at the GPW Recruitment Stadium.

In-form Paul Wellens ran in four tries as Saints beat Salford to avenge the defeat at The Willows the month before.

Saints did not have it all their way, trailing 10-4 after the first quarter thanks to tries from Ryan Boyle and Adam Sidlow, who was to score twice.

But Saints stung Salford with a stunning blitz of four tries in just nine minutes to turn the contest round.

And we ran in five more tries after the break, Salford crossing the Saints line with six efforts of their own.

Saints’ 10-try romp at was their 11th win in 13 matches, Jonny Lomax booting nine conversions.

Third-placed Saints, who moved to within two points of Wigan on the back of the 26-24 derby win at the DW Stadium, were without Achilles tendon casualty Francis Meli, Sol Soliola, Kyle Eastmond, Maurie Fa’asavalu and Jon Wilkin.

But we welcomed back Ade Gardner following a four-match absence with a rib injury – and he took just six minutes to mark his return with a try when Wellens sent him over in the corner.

The Reds, who had pulled off a surprise 42-34 victory over Saints at The Willows on 15 May, were boosted by the return of Mark Henry and Stefan Ratchford after Sunday’s home defeat by Castleford.

But, despite being without ex-Saints centre Willie Talau, Ray Cashmere and Luke Adamsonm, they stunned the home side by scoring with their first attack.

A clever slipped pass by Phil Leuluai enabled Boyle to go over near the posts, Daniel Holdsworth tagged on the conversion.

And skipper Malcolm Alker, who was prominent in the build-up, was again involved for the second try when Holdsworth supplied the pass for sub Sidlow.

Saints levelled through Puletua, whose strength brushed off several defenders. And Salford’s defence was undone by slick handling from Scott Moore and Chris Flannery for Wellens to race over.

With Lomax again on target, Saints stretched the advantage to 22-10 after an electrifying burst from Pryce, whose skill then sent Wellens away to complete their mini blitz.

But Salford refused to concede defeat, Matty Smith engineering Sidlow’s second try to cut the interval deficit to 28-16.

Flannery’s converted try early in the second half gave Saints more breathing space but Henry found a way through for Salford’s fourth touchdown.

Wellens completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute before adding a fourth after Ashley Gibson had pulled one back.

But Salford kept plugging away, Holdsworth adding their sixth try in between two more Saints tries from Matty Ashurst and Pryce.


St Helens coach Mick Potter said:

“Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens were involved in everything and contributed largely to the win. Jonny Lomax also had a really good game. He made good catches under pressure and his positioning was also impressive.

“A lot of good things are happening here but we are not perfect. We can do better than conceding 34 points.

“I’m not bothered about what position we are in at the moment. I’m just happy to get the two points and we will move from here.”

Salford boss Shaun McRae said:

“They were too strong for us in the end. We are disappointed with the result but we can take a lot of positives out of the game.

“We did not panic too much under pressure but turned over some poor ball.

“I don’t recall scoring 34 points too often and losing but a side like Saints can punish you. Offensively we were very good but struggled defensively at times.”


St Helens: Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Dean, Gardner, Pryce, Moore, Hargreaves, Cunningham, Puletua, Clough, Flannery, Roby.
Replacements: Fozzard, Graham, Ashurst, Dixon.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Broughton, Henry, Gibson, Tyrer, M Smith, Holdsworth, Boyle, Alker, Leuluai, Sibbit, Littler, Swain.
Replacements: Ratchford, J Smith, Parker, Sidlow.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).

Attendance: 7,728.

Principal Club Partners

LWC Logo

Platinum Club Partners

Kinaxia Logistics logo
Elcons Logo
Astar Recruitment logo
BIFFA Logo

Associate Club Partners

St Helens College logo

Official Club Partners

Box Holders