Saints too strong for dogged Wakefield

Saints came away with a comfortable 26-6 victory over Wakefield Trinity after three tries at the end of the first half proved the difference.

A tight opening half hour saw both sides exchange penalties, before three late first half tries from Danny Richardson, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tommy Makinson sent Saints into half time with an 18 point lead. Kevin Naiqama continued Saints’ dominance scoring the first try of the second half before Wakefield grabbed a late consolation try through Kelepi Tanginoa.

It was the visitors who got off to the best start forcing Saints to kick from there own 20 in the opening couple of sets. But that didn’t last for long as it was Saints who got the first points of the match after a high tackle from Wakefield’s Tanginoa on Theo Fages gave Richardson the opportunity to give Saints an early lead.

Wakefield leveled the game with a penalty of their own, after Danny Brough broke the Saints line and in the next tackle Saints were penalised for holding down in the tackle. Brough converted the penalty and levelled the game early on.

Saints got the opening try of the clash from a bit of individual brilliance from Richardson. The half back stepped past one Wakefield defender, threw the dummy, broke the Wakefield line and raced clear to score under the posts. He then added the extras to his own try.

The second Saints try followed minutes later. After a brilliant run from Luke Thompson put Saints in a great position, on the last tackle a neat kick through from Fages was pounced on by LMS to extend Saints lead to 12.

Saints were in again minutes before the break after an excellent move from left to right ended with Jack Welsby feeding Makinson who stepped back inside the covering defenders to score. Richardson converted off the touchline sending Saints in at the break 18 points up.

The second half started with both sides exchanging sets on their opponents line, but both defences stood firm with the attacking side lacking the final decisive pass to get over the whitewash.

Wakefield looked the more dominant side and most likely to score forcing repeat sets on the Saints line, before sharp defence stopped the Wakefield attack with Makinson forcing the knock on.

And it was Saints who got the first points of the second half after crisp passing from Fages and Welsby found Naiqama running a perfect line and the centre crashed onto the pass to score. Richardson continuing his 100% accuracy with the boot.

Wakefield scored a late consolation try through Kelepi Tanginoa as the powerful forward crashed over from close range, but it was Saints came away with the 26-6 victory in the end and will retain the League Leaders shield if Warrington fail to beat Catalans on Saturday in Perpignan.

Match Summary

Saints: Welsby, Swift, Makinson, Percival, Naiqama, Fages, Richardson, Roby, Thompson, Lees, Taia, Peyroux, LMS.

Interchanges: Paulo, Amor, Ashworth, Bentley.

Tries: Richardson (27), LMS (32), Makinson (35), Naiqama (71).

Goals:Richardson ( 4 from 4).

Penalties: Richardson ( 1 from 1).

Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Arundel, Tupou, Hampshire, Brough, Kopczak, Randell, England, Kirmond, Tanginoa, Annakin.

Interchanges: Wood, Fifita, King, Hirst.

Tries: Tanginoa ( 78).

Goals: Brough ( 0 from 1).

Penalties: Brough (1 from 1).

HT: 20-2
FT: 26-6

REF: M Griffiths

ATT: 9,494

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
18 Adam Swift
7 Theo Fages
7 Danny Richardson
10 Matty Lees
James Roby
10 Luke Thompson
11 Zeb Taia
12 Dominique Peyroux
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Joseph Paulo
18 Kyle Amor
17 Jack Ashworth
12 James Bentley

Wakefield Trinity Line up

1Max Jowitt
2Ben Jones-Bishop
3Reece Lyne
4Joe Arundel
5Bill Tupou
6Ryan Hampshire
7Danny Brough
8Anthony England
9Tyler Randell
10Craig Kopczak
11Danny Kirmond
12Kelepi Tanginoa
13Chris Annakin
14David Fifita
15Keegan Hirst
16George King
17Kyle Wood

Last updated 2 Aug 19 21:26:26

That’s all folks, Saints were too strong in the end for a dogged Wakefield Trinity, with both latter parts of each half bringing points to contrast scoreless earlier parts.

?⚪ SAINTS 26-2 WAKEFIELD

78'
Try
Kelepi Tanginoa for Wakefield Trinity

With just a couple of minutes left, Wakefield attack the Saints line and force their way over close to the corner. They miss the conversion attempt.

?⚪ SAINTS 26-6 WAKEFIELD

72'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Richardson again adds the two points.

?⚪ SAINTS 26-2 WAKEFIELD

71'
Try
Kevin Naiqama for Saints

That would be a YES! Kevin Naiqama powers home after neat work and crisp passing from the impressive Fages and Welsby!

?⚪ SAINTS 24-2 WAKEFIELD

70'

Last 10 minutes here at the Totally Wicked Stadium, can we finish with a flourish…

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

68'

Richardson gets tied in knots trying a grubber and Wakefield grab the possession, but he then straight away tackles the Wakefield man, who spills the ball to gives Saints back the initiative.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

65'

Scrappy play from Wakefield gives Saints the ball back and they advance past half way. James Bentley joins the action, still no score in the second half.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

62'

Saints snuff out the danger as Trinity attack down their left flank, the ball has to be kicked dead by LMS, Saints to drop-out.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

59'

Fages floats out a huge pass out wide aimed at Swift but it’s almost intercepted by Jones-Bishop inside the Wakefield 10m.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

55'

Saints almost come up with a brilliant try as Richardson slots Welsby through and the full back dinks a little kick over to the corner that is just stopped in the air in front of Adam Swift.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

50'

Saints force a handling mistake from Trinity, we get the scrum on our own 40m line.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

48'

Saints get the penalty on their own line after Fifita is penalised for pushing after he was tackled by Paulo.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

45'

Slow start to the half, both teams grinding out sets through the middle of the park.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

41'

We are off and running in the second half!

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

A great second phase of the half including three tries gives us a comfortable lead at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

36'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Danny Richardson adds the extras.

?⚪ SAINTS 20-2 WAKEFIELD

35'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

After some fast hands on the right edge, Paulo and Welsby stretch the Wakefield defence to breaking point and Tommy Mak jinks in the corner to score.

?⚪ SAINTS 18-2 WAKEFIELD

33'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

?⚪ SAINTS 14-2 WAKEFIELD

32'
Try
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook for Saints

After sustained pressure, Theo Fages’ kick is spilled by the Trinity defender and LMS pounces to touch down under the sticks.

?⚪ SAINTS 12-2 WAKEFIELD

28'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

?⚪ SAINTS 8-2 WAKEFIELD

27'
Try
Danny Richardson for Saints

What a try from Richardson! he takes the ball after a Roby half break and skips and dummies past numerous defenders for the score!

?⚪ SAINTS 6-2 WAKEFIELD

26'

Everyone in the stadium thought Fages had scored on his 100th Saints appearance, after a neat kick from Richardson, but it’s called back for offside!

?⚪ SAINTS 2-2 WAKEFIELD

25'

Joseph Paulo joins the action in place of Matty Lees.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-2 WAKEFIELD

20'

Both teams look threatening on the edges but neither side are yet able to come up with anything like a finishing move. Still no tries yet.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-2 WAKEFIELD

16'

Saints are denied a try by last ditch defending from Trinity.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-2 WAKEFIELD

14'
Goal
Danny Brough for Wakefield Trinity

Brough takes the two.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-2 WAKEFIELD

13'

Brough makes a brilliant break up the middle of the Saints line but has no option but to offload to the Prop England in support but scrambling in defence Saints are penalised for holding down.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-0 WAKEFIELD

11'

Danny Brough’s high kick to the corner is dealt with by Adam Swift, Saints have the ball back in their hands.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-0 WAKEFIELD

9'

Saints are probing the Wakefield defence in the middle of the field, but a knock-on hands possession over to the opposition.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-0 WAKEFIELD

6'
Goal
Danny Richardson for Saints

Very high shot from Tanginoa on Fages gives Saints a penalty on the Trinity 20m line and we opt to take the two.

?⚪ SAINTS 2-0 WAKEFIELD

5'

Cagey first few minutes from both teams, Saints have possession but can’t get out of their own half.

?⚪ SAINTS 0-0 WAKEFIELD

We are underway here at the Totally Wicked Stadium!

?⚪ SAINTS 0-0 WAKEFIELD