Saints beat Warrington in hard fought battle

Saints avenged their defeat to Warrington earlier on this year with a well earned 24-14 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Monday evening.

Saints started well and could have took an early third minute lead. A grubber kick from James Roby bounced off the Warrington goal-post, however Ben Currie just about grounded the ball in goal before Lachlan Coote could grab the opening try of the game.

We did take a 15th minute lead though. After a Wire knock on close to their own line, we made the most of the good field position as Jack Welsby found Kevin Naiqama close to the line and he went through a gap in the hosts’ defence to score in the right corner. Coote’s conversion fell just shy of the sticks, 4-0.

That lead was extended four minutes later. A one-two between Coote and Lewis Dodd saw Saints go half the length of the field before the latter rounded some Warrington defenders to score to the left of the sticks. Coote added the extras, 10-0.

Warrington responded in the 32nd minute. A break down the middle of the pitch resulted in George Williams finding Currie who scored to the left of the sticks. Stefan Ratchford added the extras, Saints led 10-6.

Warrington then levelled the scores. Another break this time down their right wing saw a Josh Thewlis kick collected by Williams and he scored in the right corner despite Saints’ best efforts to stop him. Ratchford added the extras to give the hosts a 12-10 lead as we approached the break.

From the restart Warrington won a penalty, Ratchford once again on target as Warrington led 14-10 at the break.

Once again Saints began the second half well and only a last ditch Currie tackle prevented Naiqama scoring his second try of the evening in the corner. We did level the scores a few minutes later though. A high kick from the hosts wasn’t dealt with, Jake Mamo picked up the loose ball but Joe Batchelor robbed it one on one, he then found Mark Percival and our number four ran over 60 metres and held off multiple Warrington players to score an  incredible try in front of our fans. Coote added the extras to put us ahead again, 16-14.

That lead was further increased in the 57th minute! A good kick from Welsby on the fourth tackle into the right side of Saints’ attack saw the ball bounce over Ratchford’s head and into the arms of James Bentley who scored. Coote once again added the extras, Saints led 22-14.

Warrington were awarded a penalty with just over 13 minutes left and opted to kick for goal, Ratchford missed it so the score remained 22-14 to Saints.

With just over six minutes to go, Tom Lineham was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Coote. Saints opted not to go for two that time around, but a few tackles later we was awarded another penalty and Coote added the extras to make it 24-14.

Bentley and Gareth Widdop were both sent to the sin bin for an incident as the full-time hooter went. The altercation resulted in Saints being awarded a penalty. Coote missed the two, but it didn’t matter as Saints head to Magic Weekend for a top of the table clash against Catalans in top form!

Warrington Wolves Team: Stefan Ratchford, Josh Thewlis, Jake Mamo, Toby King, Tom Lineham, George Williams, Gareth Widdop, Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Joe Philbin, Jack Hughes, Ben Currie, Jason Clark.

Interchanges:  Ellis Longstaff, Danny Walker, Rob Mulhern, Sitaleki Akauola.

Tries: Ben Currie (32), George Williams (37)

Conversions: Stefan Ratchford (2 from 2)

Penalties: Stefan Ratchford (1 from 2)

Sin Bin: Tom Lineham (74), Gareth Widdop (80)

Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jack Welsby, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, James Bentley, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, Joe Batchelor, Jakes Wingfield.

Tries: Kevin Naiqama (15), Lewis Dodd (19), Mark Percival (47), James Bentley (57)

Conversions: Lachlan Coote (3 from 4)

Penalties: Lachlan Coote (1 from 2)

Sin Bin: James Bentley (80)

HT: 14-10

FT: 14-24

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