Saints v Huddersfield Giants

Saints end regular season at home with 100% record

Saints ensured we ended the home regular Super League season unbeaten for the first time since 2002 after an impressive 48-6 win over the Huddersfield Giants at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

It took the Saints just two minutes to take the lead as Alex Walmsley’s strong run towards the sticks resulted in an offload to his prop partner, Luke Thompson, who scored underneath the sticks to get us off to the perfect start. Lachlan Coote converted the try to give us an early 6-0 lead.

Mark Percival was taken off for a concussion test after a 4th minute head clash with Jermaine McGillvary and didn’t return.

We doubled our lead in the 15th minute, James Roby finding Theo Fages and he found his half-back partner Jonny Lomax who put Dom Peyroux through a gap. Coote added the extras for 12-0.

Off the back of a Coote 40/20, we added our third try of the game, just after the halfway point of the first half. From under the sticks we went left, Roby finding Coote, he found Fages, who then threw a cut-out pass to Regan Grace, who scored in the left corner. Coote converting the try from the left touchline for 18-0.

It took until the 36th minute for the next try. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook offloaded well under pressure, finding Morgan Knowles, he then dummied a pass to Lomax and raced almost half the length of the pitch to score. Coote converting for 24-0. That is how it was at half-time.

Giants responded in the third minute of the second half, Michael Lawrence powering over from close range. Oliver Russell converted the try to make it 24-6.

Kyle Amor added his name to the try-scoring list for Saints, going over from close range after an offload from LMS five minutes before the hour mark.

We then added our sixth try in the 63rd minute, Theo Fages finding Thompson on a strong line, and he powered over from close range to further increase our lead. Coote maintained his 100% record with the boot for the night, to make it 36-6.

It was try number seven in the 69th minute, James Roby threw the ball out from dummy half left towards Theo Fages, he dropped the ball but Jonny Lomax picked the ball up to run through a static Giants defence and score. Coote once again adding the extras for 42-6.

We weren’t finished there, adding try number eight three minutes from time. Fages picking the ball up after a Giants knock-on, he then passed wide for Kevin Naiqama who sprinted 40 metres before being pulled back. He flung the ball on his inside to Tommy Makinson and he did the rest! Coote once again adding the extras two to maintain his 100% conversion record on a night when the Saints ended the regular season at the Totally Wicked Stadium, undefeated.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Luke Thompson, James Roby, Alex Walmsley, Dominique Peyroux, Zeb Taia, Morgan Knowles Subs – Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth, James Bentley

Tries – Luke Thompson (2), Dominique Peyroux, Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Kyle Amor, Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson.

Goals – Lachlan Coote (8 from 8)

Giants Team: Darnell McIntosh, Louis Senior, Jake Wardle, Alex Mellor, Jermaine McGillvary, Oliver Russell, Tom Holmes, Suaia Matagi, Adam O’Brien, Paul Clough, Sam Hewitt, Ukuma Ta’ai, Michael Lawrence Subs – Kruise Leeming, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Jon Luke Kirby, Oliver Wilson.

Tries – Michael Lawrence.

Goals – Oliver Russell (1 from 1)

HT – 24-0

FT – 48-6

Attendance – 9560