Saints storm into the Super League Grand Final

Saints booked their place at Old Trafford for the first time since 2014 after a hugely impressive seven try victory over derby rivals Wigan Warriors at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Inside an electric Totally Wicked Stadium and after a week off to refresh, Saints came flying out of the traps forcing Wigan to kick from their own half. That pressure was turned into points minutes later after a neat kick back towards the posts from Lachlan Coote was pounced on by Theo Fages and the Frenchman touched down to open the scoring. Coote added the two.

Saints continued on the front foot and were in again minutes later when defence was turned into attack with Kevin Naiqama intercepting a George Williams pass on the half way line. The centre took the interception and raced away to score under the posts. Coote added the extras.

12 points were turned into 14 with Coote converting a penalty after a barnstorming run from Alex Walmsley had caused mayhem in the Wigan defence.

Wigan pulled a try back against the run of play through Liam Marshall after Chris Hankinson found a gap in the Saints line and raced clear before passing to Marshall on his outside.

But it didn’t take Saints long to get back on top as Coote chased his own kick and forced a goal line drop out. On the next set a short ball from James Roby found the excellent Luke Thompson who crashed over. Coote added the extras extended the lead to 14 points again.

The first half scoring didn’t stop there with Roby involved again, his ball finding Jonny Lomax and the stand off forced his way over past three Wigan defenders.

Saints started the second half the way they ended the first, forcing a repeat set on the Wigan line. Unfortunately a knock on from Fages ended the attack, but the Saints had momentum again.

We were not to be denied for long as substitute Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook broke through the Wigan line which created the space for Coote who fed Zeb Taia to walk in at the corner.

Saints were in again on the hour mark with a flowing move down the left edge. With the West Terrace cheering every tackle, Saints forced the knock on inside Wigan’s ten meters. From the resulting set the ball went out wide to the right with Fages finding Lomax and he fed Mark Percival who scored in the corner. Coote was unable to converted off the touchline.

Percival was in again moments later for his second and Saints seventh try of the night after Coote found the centre and he ran through two Wigan defenders to touch down. Coote converted brilliantly off the touchline to bring up the 40 points.

Wigan did grab a consolation try late on through Bevan French, but that didn’t stop the Saints fans from celebrating a first trip to Old Trafford since 2014 and Justin Holbrook’s final game at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Coote,  Makinson,  Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Fages, Thompson, Roby, Walmsley, Peyroux, Taia, Knowles.

Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Ashworth, Smith.

Tries – Fages (4), Naiqama ( 11), Thompson (28), Lomax (34), Taia (46), Percival (61,75).

Goals – Coote ( 5 from 7).

Penalties – Coote ( 1 from 1).

Wigan Warriors: Hardaker, Marshall, Hankinson, Gildart, Burgess, Williams, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell, Partington, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin.

Subs: Byrne, Flower, French, Smithies.

Tries – Marshall (20), French (79).

Goals – Hardaker ( 1 from 2).

HT – 26-6

FT – 40-10

Attendance – 14,508

Saints Line up

1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
7 Jonny Lomax
7 Theo Fages
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
10 Luke Thompson
11 Zeb Taia
12 Dominique Peyroux
13 Morgan Knowles
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Kyle Amor
17 Jack Ashworth
19 Aaron Smith

Wigan Warriors Line up

1 Zak Hardaker
2 Liam Marshall
3 Chris Hankinson
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
6 George Williams
7 Tommy Leuluai
8 Tony Clubb
9 Sam Powell
10 Ollie Partington
11 Willie Isa
12 Liam Farrell
13 Sean O’Loughlin
14 Liam Byrne
15 Ben Flower
16 Bevan French
17 Morgan Smithies

Last updated 27 Sep 19 21:31:04

FT: 🔴⚪ Saints 40-10 Wigan 🍒⚪

WE ARE OFF TO OLD TRAFFORD! 🔴⚪

Second half tries from Zeb Taia and two from Percival wrap it up and we will be in the Super League Grand Final! 🔴⚪

79'
Try
Bevan French for Wigan Warriors

Bevan French goes over for a consolation for the Warriors. Hardaker misses the extras.

🔴⚪ Saints 40-10 Wigan 🍒⚪

76'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

The 40 points is up as Coooooote nails the touchline conversion!

🔴⚪ Saints 40-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

75'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

YES WE CAN! Percival wraps it up with his second after latching onto Coote’s ball and powering over! Old Trafford here we come! 🏟️

🔴⚪ Saints 38-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

74'

Aaron Smith does well to make a scurry forward and kicks through which forces a repeat set. Can we get one final try before the hooter?

🔴⚪ Saints 34-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

72'

A few uncharacteristic errors from the Saints as we head into the last 10 minutes. Wigan have the scrum in Saints half looking to pull a late try back.

🔴⚪ Saints 34-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

67'

Tony Clubb is fortunate to avoid a sin bin for a shoulder charge on Coote, before a succession of penalties for both teams.

🔴⚪ Saints 34-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

📸 I think @JZTaia enjoyed that one…👀

62'

Coote misses the touchline conversion attempt.

🔴⚪ Saints 34-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

61'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

WHAT A TRY!!! The ball is flung to the left, literally, as Fages feeds Lomax and he finds Percy with the cut out pass who scores in the corner!

Can we say it yet? ……..🏟️

🔴⚪ Saints 34-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

60'

Some powering hits from Big Al topped with cheers from the West stand force Wigan to knock on in their own half! Another chance here!

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

56'

This time Fages is involved at the right end as his grubber is kicked dead by Marshall and Saints will come again!

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

54'

The kick through from Hardaker is pushed into touch by Fages as Thompson receives a standing ovation for his performance tonight. He LMS and Robes are off for Amor, Big Al and Aaron Smith.

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

53'

Wigan win consecutive penalties as Saints lose a bit of concentration. Time to defend, boys!

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

50'

The Warriors have a big chance to pull a try back as Farrell breaks free, but he couldn’t find Burgess with the pass out wide.

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

47'

Cooooote narrowly misses his kick from the left, but it is the perfect start to the second half!

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

46'
Try
Zeb Taia for Saints

Zebyyyy! A brilliant run from LMS creates the opening which sees Coooote put Taia through the gap and he scores easily! Yessss!

🔴⚪ Saints 30-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

43'

We have picked up where we left off forcing a repeat set following Coote’s grubber!

🔴⚪ Saints 26-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

41'

We are back underway. Come on boys! Jack Ashworth is on for Knowles at the break.

🔴⚪ Saints 26-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

HT: 🔴⚪ Saints 26-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

Saints are in control at the break after an impressive first half display. Tries coming from Fages, Naiqama, Thompson and Lomax. Marshall with Wigan’s only try.

38'

Wow, Peyroux is inches from scoring this time as he is pulled back before the line as Hardaker kicks the ball dead and we come again with two minutes on the clock!

🔴⚪ Saints 26-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

35'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooote kicks his fifth from five as we approach half-time.

🔴⚪ Saints 26-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

34'
Try
Jonny Lomax for Saints

YESSSSSS!!! Again Roby is involved as his ball to Lomax on the last play sees our stand off force his way past three Wigan defenders to score!

🔴⚪ Saints 24-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

33'

Peyroux’s hit on Gildart forces the Wigan man to knock on in their own half and we have another chance to extend our lead!

🔴⚪ Saints 20-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

📸 Naiqama celebrates his interception try!

29'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooote again converts the extras!

🔴⚪ Saints 20-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

28'
Try
Luke Thompson for Saints

Come again we do!!! Luke Thompson latches onto Roby’s short pass to power through the gap to score! Get in!!

🔴⚪ Saints 18-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

28'

Fages is involved again with another grubber which is so nearly grasped by Cooooote, but he slips at the vital moment and does well to then trap Hardaker in goal and Saints will come again!

🔴⚪ Saints 14-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

28'

Lomax comes up with a great tackle to force Willie Isa to knock on before Mark Percival makes good yardage.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

26'

Saints win a penalty, before Wigan do similar as LMS is on for Big Al.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

21'
Goal
Zak Hardaker for Wigan Warriors

Hardaker converts from in front of the sticks.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-6 Wigan 🍒⚪

20'
Try
Liam Marshall for Wigan Warriors

Out of nowhere, Wigan are back in it as Hankinson breaks through a Saints gap and feeds Marshall out wide and he sprints clear to score.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-4 Wigan 🍒⚪

18'

This time Makinson breaks through a gap in the Wigan line before he is pulled down before the Warriors have a rare attack which results in Coote taking the high kick comfortably.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

16'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Big Al is everywhere and again wins a penalty, this time right in front of the sticks, which Coote converts to extend our lead.

🔴⚪ Saints 14-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

15'

The play results in Fages’ grubber kick being fumbled over the dead ball line by Burgess and again we come!

🔴⚪ Saints 12-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

14'

Big Al barges his way over three Wigan forwards before winning a penalty and we have the ball on the half way. Can we go in again?

🔴⚪ Saints 12-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

12'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooote again makes no mistake from right in front of the posts!

🔴⚪ Saints 12-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

11'
Try
Kevin Naiqama for Saints

WE ARE IN AGAIN! George Williams pass is intercepted by Kev Naiqama and he runs half the length of he field to touch down!

🔴⚪ Saints 10-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

9'

Saints are up for this one as Thompson breaks through the line only to be pulled down by Hardaker! It’s a cracking start and the atmosphere is bouncing!

🔴⚪ Saints 6-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

6'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooote easily converts to extend our lead!

🔴⚪ Saints 6-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

5'
Try
Theo Fages for Saints

GET INNNNN! On just our second set the ball is played from right from left and Coote’s grubber is picked up by Fages who easily touches down under the sticks!! What a start!

🔴⚪ Saints 4-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

5'
Try
Theo Fages for Saints

GET INNNNN! On just our second set the ball is played from right from left and Coote’s grubber is picked up by Fages who easily touches down under the sticks!! What a start!

🔴⚪ Saints 4-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

3'

It’s a solid opening set from the Saints as Dom Peyroux makes a scurry before Theo Fages’ high kick is caught by Joe Burgess.

🔴⚪ Saints 0-0 Wigan 🍒⚪

KICK OFF: We are off and underway here at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Old Trafford is on the line! COYS! 🔴⚪

🔴⚪ Saints 0-0 Wigan 🍒⚪