Saints win Wolves thriller to march eight points clear!

Saints beat Warrington in a battle of the top two in a bruising encounter at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to extend our lead at the top of the table to eight points following a dramatic late display resulted in a 21-10 victory.

A first half dominated with big tackles and excellent defence from both sides saw Warrington head into half time 4-0 up after two Declan Patton penalties. The second half started with another Patton penalty conversion, but back came Saints and after an excellent break from Jonny Lomax led to Mark Percival scoring in the corner. Luke Thompson was next to score after the forward picked up the loose ball and raced in to score and on the next set Lachlan Coote dropped a goal extending the lead to seven.

A quick fire try from Jake Mamo brought the game back into contention, but a typical bulldozing run from Alex Walmsley sealed the crucial victory before Coote converted a penalty late on.

In the highly anticipated first vs second Betfred Super League fixture between the best two teams in the competition, it was the Wolves who started the better of the two sides forcing back to back sets on the Saints line before a nasty looking neck injury forced Aaron Smith off the field.

It was the Wolves who got the first points of the match after Saints were penalised for not being square at the play the ball. Patton converted the penalty before he converted another penalty minutes later as Mark Percival was adjudged to of obstructed the Warrington player.

The remaining first half was a battle of the forwards as both sides held good field position, but were unable to get over the try line due to excellent goal line defence as the Wolves went in ahead at the break.

The hosts got the first points of the second half through another Patton penalty right in front of the posts which extended the lead to six points.

Saints went close through Morgan Knowles as he caught the Warrington defence off guard, but was called to have knocked on inches out from the line.

But Saints continued to press and got the first try of the match after Jonny Lomax found the gap in the defensive line and ran 30 metres before being hauled down. On the next tackle Coote fed Theo Fages and the Frenchman found Percival who threw the dummy and scored in the corner. Coote with all the pressure on his back converted brilliantly off the touchline to tie the score at 6-6 on the hour mark.

Then with Saints having the momentum, Lomax’s high bomb was picked up from dummy half by Mamo only for Lomax to hit the full back with a solid shot which resulted in Mamo dropping the ball. Thompson picked up the loose ball and stepped past three covering defenders to score sending the Saints fans wild! Coote added the two.

On the next set Saints won a penalty putting them in excellent field position and on the last, the ball was passed to Coote and he calmly slotted over the drop goal making it 6-13.

From the kick off Warrington went short and Mamo picked up the loose ball and raced past two Saints defenders to score to set up a nervy last few minutes.

Patton missed the extras before Saints put the game to bed as Joe Philbin knocked on and our big bruising forward, Walmsley did the rest, powering his way over and taking three Warrington players with him. Coote again added the two.

With seconds left Saints won a penalty in front of the posts and Coote added the final two points of the game which meant Saints marched eight points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League table.

Match Summary

Warrington Wolves: Mamo, Charnley, King, Goodwin, Lineham, Austin, Patton, Clark, Hill, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Akauola.

Interchanges J.Clark, Tasi, Philbin, Davis.

Tries: Mamo (76)

Goals: Patton (0 from 1)

Penalties: Patton (3 from 3)

St Helens: Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Fages, Thompson, Smith, Walmsley, Knowles, Peyroux, LMS.

Interchanges: Amor, Paulo, Lees, Bentley.

Tries: Percival (60), Thompson (73), Walmsley (77).

Goals: Coote (3 from 3).

Penalties: Coote (1 from 1).

Drop Goals: Coote (1 from 1).

Referee: Ben Thaler

HT: 4-0

FT: 21-10

ATT: 14,211

Saints Line up

1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Theo Fages
8 Alex Walmsley
19 Aaron Smith
10 Luke Thompson
13 Morgan Knowles
12 Dominique Peyroux
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Joseph Paulo
18 Kyle Amor
10 Matty Lees
12 James Bentley

Warrington Wolves Line up

1Jake Mamo
2Tom Lineham
3Bryson Goodwin
4Toby King
5Josh Charnley
6Blake Austin
7Declan Patton
8Chris Hill
9Daryl Clark
10Mike Cooper
11Ben Currie
12Jack Hughes
13Sitaleki Akauola
14Jason Clark
15Joe Philbin
16Matt Davis
17Lama Tasi

Last updated 28 Jun 19 21:46:57

FT: ? WOLVES 10-21 SAINTS ?⚪

A brilliant battling second half performance sees Percival, Thompson and Walmsley go over to secure a MASSIVE two points for the Saints!

80'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Chris Hill is penalised for a high tackle in front of their own sticks and Coote adds the cherry on the cake here with the two points!

? WOLVES 10-21 SAINTS ?⚪

78'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooooote adds the extras!

? WOLVES 10-19 SAINTS ?⚪

77'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

BIG AL DOES THE BUSINESS!! The play the ball finds our big, bruising forward and he barges his way over to secure the two points!!! Get in!!

? WOLVES 10-17 SAINTS ?⚪

77'

Philbin knocks on at the play the ball and Saints have a set in the Wolves half!

? WOLVES 10-13 SAINTS ?⚪

76'

Patton misses the extras from right of the sticks!!

? WOLVES 10-13 SAINTS ?⚪

76'
Try
Jake Mamo for Warrington Wolves

A short kick off results in Mamo picking up, stepping past Grace and Percival to touch down.

? WOLVES 10-13 SAINTS ?⚪

75'
Drop Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooooote using all his experience to kick a drop goal to extend our lead!!

? WOLVES 6-13 SAINTS ?⚪

74'

What a hit from Jonny it was which forced Mamo to drop the high bomb!

? WOLVES 6-12 SAINTS ?⚪

73'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Coooooooote kicks the extras!!

? WOLVES 6-12 SAINTS ?⚪

73'
Try
Luke Thompson for Saints

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! The away end erupts as Mamo spills Lomax’s high bomb and Thomo is there to race through and power his way over. No doubt about that one!!

? WOLVES 6-10 SAINTS ?⚪

70'

It’s still end to end here as we approach the final 10 minutes. Can we find a later winner?

? WOLVES 6-6 SAINTS ?⚪

? The moment Percy went over!

62'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

Cooooooootieeee nails the touch line conversion and it’s GAME ON!!!

? WOLVES 6-6 SAINTS ?⚪

60'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

GET INNNNN!! Lomax breaks through the Warrington line before the ball is played to Coote and he finds Fages who feeds Percy in at the corner!!

? WOLVES 6-4 SAINTS ?⚪

58'

Big Al is back on and the Saints fans roar in appreciation! Can he inspire us to turn this tight game around? Let’s hope so! It looks like Knowles will go in at hooker as Bentley comes off.

? WOLVES 6-0 SAINTS ?⚪

56'

A chance for Knowles, but he knocks on under the tackle on the Warrington line! From looking at the screens it looked like the ball was ripped out…

? WOLVES 6-0 SAINTS ?⚪

54'
Yellow Card
Jack Hughes for Warrington Wolves

Jack Hughes is sent to the bin after a shoulder charge on Makinson. Can we make our extra man count?

? WOLVES 6-0 SAINTS ?⚪

52'
Goal
Declan Patton for Warrington Wolves

Patton kicks the two.

? Wolves 6-0 Saints ?⚪

51'

Warrington win a penalty on the Saints line as Naiqama is adjudged to have knocked on, when it seemed clear from the screens that he was interfered with in the play-the-ball.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

48'

Kyle Amor tries a quick offload on the Warrington line which hits catches Bentley off guard and the Wolves survive as we look for the first try in this game.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

47'

Makinson forces Jake Mamo to lose the ball and now Saints are back with the ball! Much like the first half, it’s a tight, evenly matched game!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

45'

Both teams exchange sets before Warrington win a penalty in their own half. Time to defend early here Saints!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

41'

Here we go for the second half! COYS!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

HT: ? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

A bruising, battling half here at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and it’s Warrington who lead after two penalty goals from Dec Patton.

38'

Saints continue to attack, but Grace is tackled on the last and again Warrington survive as we approach half-time.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

35'

Again the Saints fans rise, but Ben Thaler says Matty Lees knocks the ball on before touching down in front of the sticks.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

33'

Great defence from the Saints as Peyroux wraps up Ben Currie and Saints now have the ball in an end to end, bruising contest before Lomax wins a penalty! COYS!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

30'

At the other end King knocks on Austin’s high bomb. It’s 100mph rugby league here!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

29'

The set results in Dom Peyroux knocking on Jonny Lomax’s kick.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

28'

Saints win another penalty as Goodwin blocks Makinson after a Fages kick. We have a set of six on the Warrington line here!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

26'

The set results in Fages’ grubber finding the hands of a Warrington player and again the Wolves survive as Saints build pressure!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

24'

Tommy Mak finds the gap and is nearly away before he wins the penalty as Goodwin is penalised for trying to drag our flying winger in touch as the tackle was called.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

21'

But Charnley forces Grace into touch and Warrington survive.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

21'

Saints now win a penalty as Daryl Clark is penalised for passing after the tackle was called. Come on boys!!

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

18'
Goal
Declan Patton for Warrington Wolves

Mark Percival blocks Toby King in the air and again Warrington have a penalty in front of the sticks which Patton converts.

? Wolves 4-0 Saints ?⚪

15'
Goal
Declan Patton for Warrington Wolves

Commentators curse! Big Al is penalised for not being square in the tackle and Patton kicks the Wolves in front.

? Wolves 2-0 Saints ?⚪

The forwards battle will be key today! Big Al leading by example!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

11'

Kev Naiqama nails Blake Austin in the tackle on the last and Saints have the ball back as the atmosphere goes up a notch inside the Halliwell Jones Stadium!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

9'

The Saints fans were on their feet for a minute as Grace touches down in the corner after a lovely cut-out pass from Coooote, but the video referee spots Grace’s foot was just in touch.

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

8'

Fages wins a penalty after Mike Cooper catches our scrum half with a high tackle. Cooooote kicks for touch and we start here on half way!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

5'

Fages saves a certain try as Josh Charnley’s kick through is booted to safety by our little Frenchman before a Warrington man can touch down!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

4'

Unfortunately, Smith is not able to continue as he is stretchered off in a neck brace and James Bentley will come on and slot in at hooker.

Get well soon, Az!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

4'

We have a stoppage in play here as Saints’ Aaron Smith is down following a collision with Sitaleki Akauola. Let’s hope Az is OK to carry on!

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

3'

The hosts start strongly making good yardage, but Dec Patton’s kick is safely grabbed in the air by Regan Grace on the far side and the set results in Theo Fages’ long kick down field.

? Wolves 0-0 Saints ?⚪

Referee Ben Thaler raises his arm and we are off and underway here at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in this top of the table clash!

COYS! ?⚪