Saints v Widnes Vikings

Saints regained the Karalius Cup with a comfortable 16-0 win over Widnes Vikings.

Ryan Morgan, Jake Spedding and Theo Fages all crossed in what was the first hit out of the season for Keiron Cunningham’s men.

Encouragingly, as much Saints looked balanced from the off, it was the youthful feel of the second half team that would have been most pleasing to the coaching staff.

They defended everything a more senior Vikings threw at them, and deserved the plaudits, and the trophy presentation, at the end of the match.

Saints almost opened their account three minutes in thanks to the hard work of Matty Smith.

His kick to the corner was recycled back to the middle via Tommy Makinson and Jon Wilkin – and the scrum half grubbered through to Fages.

But Widnes’ defence beat him to the try by an inch.

On nine minutes Saints did score and it was thanks to the number 6.

Fages slipped two tackles before drawing his man and sending Morgan over from 20 yards out.

Matty Smith with the extras.

Fages almost fashioned another chance for himself 20 minutes in but slipped – before Widnes hit back with pressure of their own to force a drop out.

But the home side’s defence was on top as it was throughout the half whenever the Vikings threatened.

Saints probably would have liked to have been further ahead by the time Cunningham began to withdraw the starters but the interchanges stepped up and were unlucky not to increase the lead by half time.

They did, however, do just that one minute into the second half.

A simple chip through saw Corey Thompson panic under pressure from Regan Grace and Jake Spedding mopped up.

The young Saints almost scored again on 55 minutes before Grace and Spedding combined to stop a certain try.

Widnes had one chalked off for a forward pass 10 minutes later before Saints put the icing on the cake wth a well worked try.

Richardson aimed a bullet of the kick towards the post on the last; it took a richochet and Fages beat the chasers.

The try more than underlined a competent Saints performance that shows the club is in good stance for the 2017 season.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Morgan, Spedding, Fages

Goals: Smith (1 from 1), Richardson (1 from 2)

Vikings:

Tries:

Goals:

Penalties:

Saints: 7

Vikings: 10

HT: 6-0

FT: 16-0

REF: J Roberts

ATT: 3358

Teams:

Saints:

1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 14. Luke Douglas, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Joe Greenwood, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 8. Alex Walmsley, 15. Adam Walker, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee, 19. Greg Richards, 20. Morgan Knowles, 21. Jack Owens, 22. Matty Fleming, 23. Jack Ashworth, 24. Danny Richardson, 25. Ricky Bailey, 26. Jake Spedding, 27. Calvin Wellington, 28. Regan Grace, 30. Jonah Cunningham, 31. Aaron Smith.

Vikings:

1. Rhys Hanbury; 2. Corey Thompson, 26. Tom Armstrong, 4. Charly Runciman, 17. Stefan Marsh; 32. Danny Craven, 7. Tom Gilmore; 15. Gil Dudson, 31. Jordan Johnstone, 10. Jack Buchanan, 12. Matt Whitley, 11. Chris Houston, 19. Macgraff Leuluai.

Subs: 5. Patrick Ah Van, 20. Manase Manuokafoa, 22. Ted Chapelhow, 23. Jay Chapelhow, 24. Sam Brooks, 25. Tom Olbison, 28. Ryan Ince, 29. Brad Walker, 42. Danny Walker.