Saints prepared for next weekend's Challenge Cup final against Castleford with a hard-fought 30-14 win over Wakefield Trinity on Friday evening.
After a tight opening twelve minutes in Yorkshire, Saints took the lead in the 13th minute. On the last tackle James Roby opted to go down the short side on the left, he found Lachlan Coote and our number one found Mark Percival who broke a Trinity tackle to score to the left of the sticks. Coote added the extra two, 6-0 Saints lead.
Trinity’s first real opening of the game came in the 18th minute, they created an overlap on their right-hand side, but a great recovery tackle from Mark Percival and then Alex Walmsley forced Reece Lyne into touch.
Saints managed to extend their lead midway through the first half, Wakefield were penalised for a shot on Morgan Knowles, and Coote nailed the penalty from in front of the sticks, 8-0.
Lewis Dodd then capped his first Saints start with a great individual effort shortly after. He was given the ball ten metres from the Wakefield line and some great footwork allowed him to step past two defenders to score underneath the sticks. Coote added the conversion from in front of the sticks, 14-0 Saints led.
Lee Kershaw got the hosts’ first points of the game in the 27th minute, sliding in at the right corner after a flowing move from left to right. Mason Lino missed the conversion from the right touchline, 14-4.
Wakefield were then reduced to 12 men for ten minutes. James Batchelor stopping a Saints counter attack by not releasing the tackle after a Morgan Knowles interception. A few tackles after the sin bin incident, Saints got awarded another penalty, this time they opted to take the two points against 12-man Wakefield, Coote making no mistake, 16-4.
Trinity added a second try seconds before the break. Innes Senior fending off a Coote tackle in the far left corner to score. Lino’s conversion bounced in off the post as the hooter sounded, as Saints led 16-10 at the break in West Yorkshire.
Percival was then sent to the sin bin eight minutes into the second half, for apparently holding down a Wakefield player as they looked to play the ball after a bit of pressure on the Saints line from the hosts. They managed to make the most of their extra man advantage after camping on the Saints line. Senior scoring his second in the left corner after collecting a Ryan Hampshire cut-out pass. Lino couldn’t add the extras, so Saints still led 16-14.
Saints grabbed their first points of the second half in the 64th minute, Coote kicking a penalty as Saints looked to kill the Wakefield momentum, 18-14 we led with just over 15 minutes to go.
Two minutes later Coote was involved again as he grabbed our first try of the second half. Sione Mata’utia made a good break downfield, he found Coote on his inside and our fullback dummied past a Trinity defender to score under the sticks. Our full back converted his own try, 24-14 Saints led.
Saints wrapped up the win on the hooter, a flowing move from left to right saw Kevin Naiqama flick the ball onto Tommy Makinson, and the England winger cut in off the wing to out strength a Trinity defender and score. Coote added the extras, as Saints head to Wembley on the back of a win.
Wakefield Trinity Team: Ryan Hampshire, Lee Kershaw, Reece Lyne, Joe Arundel, Innes Senior, Jacob Miller, Mason Lino, Kelepi Tanginoa, James Batchelor, Tinirau Arona, Matty Ashurst, Jay Pitts, Joe Westerman.
Interchanges: Liam Kay, David Fifita, Eddie Battye, Yusuf Aydin.
Tries: Lee Kershaw (27), Innes Senior (40, 51)
Conversions: Mason Lino (1 from 3)
Sin Bin: James Batchelor (35)
Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Sione Mata’utia, Joe Batchelor, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Matty Lees, Joel Thompson, Agnatius Paasi, Jack Welsby.
Tries: Mark Percival (13), Lewis Dodd (24), Lachlan Coote (66), Tommy Makinson (80)
Conversions: Lachlan Coote (4 from 4)
Penalties: Lachlan Coote (3 from 3)
Sin Bin: Mark Percival (48)
HT: 10-16
FT: 14-30
