A first half Lewis Dodd hat-trick ultimately sealed a 32-6 win for Saints Reserves against London Broncos on a wet and windy afternoon at Trailfinders.

London started well and applied early pressure, but it was the Saints who drew first blood on their first attack of the afternoon, they broke through the Broncos defence on the 35 metre line, Dodd claiming his first try just left of the posts. The kick into the wind was converted by Callum Hazzard.

The visitors went in for their second half way through the first half, an attacking kick wasn’t dealt with by the Broncos defence and a knock on from the kick saw Dodd go over for his second of the afternoon. He converted and it was Dodd who went over the line again 5 minutes from the half time hooter, claiming a first half hat trick.

The rain and the wind failed to let up, and neither did the Broncos, as good work from Jonah Varela saw the winger bundle himself through the St.Helens defence and over the line, Rob Oakley made light work of the conversion in the conditions to bring the score to 6-18 at half time.

Second half Saints pressure was slowly starting to build up again and with 20 minutes left on the clock, the Broncos, until then, resilient defence was broken as Sam Royle made his way over the line for the visitors with Dodd converting with the wind now at his back, making the score 24-6.

St.Helens now took control of the game, scoring two tries more before the final whistle, the first coming from Ryan Ince, on loan from Leigh Centurions, who picked up a grubber kick placed into the right corner and the last try of the afternoon came in the opposite corner with Brad Holroyd the scorer.

Ian Talbot’s men are next in action against the Castleford Tigers on Thursday at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle with kick off at 7:30pm.

Match Summary

Saints Team: Tom Nisbet, Bradley Holroyd, Nico Rizzelli, Benjamin Davies, Ryan Ince, Owain Abel, Lewis Dodd, Callum Hazzard, Paul Nash, Alex Eckley, Mike Weldon, Sam Royle, Lewis Baxter.

Interchanges: Kye Siyani, Jumah Sambou, Keenan McDaid, Harry Brooks.

Tries:  Lewis Dodd (3), Sam Royle, Ryan Ince, Brad Holroyd.

Goals: Callum Hazzard, Lewis Dodd (3).

London Team: Ted Davidson, Alfie Edwards, Jonah Verela, Josh Hodson, Gideon Boafo, Oli Leyland, Rian Horsman, Christian Gale, Rob Oakley, Delaine Bedward, Adam Green, Jacob Jones, Will Blakemore.

Interchanges: Lawrence Haywood, Jay White, Luke Callan, Rory Gray.

Tries:Jonah Verela

Goals: Rob Oakley

HT: 6-18

FT: 6-32