SAINTS grabbed their third win on the spin with a fine 34-16 win over Hull KR at the Stobart Stadium.
James Roby was the star of the performance – having a hand in four tries – with a supporting cast of a very hungry Saints around him.
He laid on three tries in eight minutes to cancel out Rovers’ opener – Sia Soliola and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (2) benefitting – before Ade Gardner blasted through the line from distance to feed Paul Wellens.
Jamie Foster finished off a fine set to increase the lead further and James Graham latched on to another of ‘that man’s’ passes to score.
Hull KR battled to find a way through and did cross through Jake Webster and Kris Welham late on.
But Saints were too far ahead and deserved the comprehensive win.
Saints were largely unchanged from last week’s win over Bradford with Gary Wheeler coming in for the injured Francis Meli and Tommy Makinson appearing on the bench for the second time this season.
A special guard of honour welcomed captain James Graham on to the field for his 200th appearance for the Saints but it was Rovers who had the early pressure.
On the back of a penalty, the ball went through the middle but Blake Green’s kick came, thankfully, to nothing.
Moments later a massive high kick from Jonny Lomax caused mayhem in Hull’s defence – but they survived – then Lomax broke through and fed Tony Puletua who knocked on as he went to ground the ball.
Chances were few and far between in the opening 10 minutes and that was an opening Saints should have punished.
And Hull made them pay as Kris Welham crossed seconds later with Craig Hall converting.
Saints hit back almost immediately in the simplest of ways. Roby at acting half back found Sia Soliola on a good line and he crashed over. Foster levelling it up.
On 21 minutes, it was the same script, different scorer. Roby with the pass and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook with the four-pointer.
Foster with the two points.
And moments later, Robes provided the pass for ‘LMS’ to do it again. Foster three from three.
With five minutes to go, Saints forced a drop out but couldn’t find a way through the line – but they did moments later. Hull cleared the ball on the last, Gardner returned it with interest, broke through the line and Paul Wellens was backing up.
Foster too good with the boot once more to give Saints a 24-6 lead at half time.
Hull made changes in the second half with Welham in at full-back for Briscoe, Latus onto the wing and Webster in at centre.
And it seemed to work with Blake Green hitting a massive 40:20 early to put Rovers in scoring range.
Hull then grabbed another set on Saints’ line – and a drop out – but Simmons’ men defended like their lives depended on it.
From weathering the storm, Saints then came again – down the field from within their own half – and some never say die attack saw Jamie Foster go in.
James Graham then capped off his stellar match with an archetypical bulldozing plunge from Roby’s pass. Foster with his fifth.
Hull KR pulled one back through Jake Webster – goaled by Hall off the touchline – before Kris Welham rounded off the evening’s entertainment.
A good win for Saints with Lomax and Roby outstanding.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Soliola, McCarthy-Scarsbrook (2), Wellens, Foster, Graham
Goals: Foster (5 from 6)
Hull KR:
Tries: Welham, Webster
Goals: Hall (2 from 2)
Penalties:
Saints: 10
Hull KR: 4
HT: 24-6
FT: 34-16
REF: Ben Thaler
ATT: 7740
Teams:
Saints:
1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Michael Shenton, 17. Gary Wheeler, 22. Jamie Foster; 25. Lee Gaskell, 20. Jonny Lomax; 8. Josh Perry, 9. James Roby, 10. James Graham, 13. Chris Flannery, 4. Sia Soliola, 11. Tony Puletua.
Subs: 14. Scott Moore, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 18. Matty Ashurst, 28. Tommy Makinson.
Hull KR:
1. Shaun Briscoe; 2. Peter Fox, 19. Craig Hall, 3. Kris Welham, 4. Jake Webster; 6. Blake Green, 13. Scott Murrell; 10. Joel Clinton, 18. Josh Hodgson, 14. Liam Watts, 23. Willie Mason, 12. Ben Galea, 16. Jason Netherton.
Subs: 8. Rhys Lovegrove, 9. Ben Fisher, 21. Sam Latus, 22. Scott Taylor.
