Strong second half performance sees Saints maintain 100% record

Six second half tries saw Saints reclaim top spot in the Betfred Super League table after a double from Kevin Naiqama and Regan Grace, plus scores from James Bentley and Jack Welsby.

An uneventful first half saw defences on top at the Totally Wicked Stadium. After an end to end first 15 minutes Wakefield came closest to opening the scoring, but some good defending from the reigning champions held Trinity up one metre short of the line.

James Bentley was sinbinned shortly after, as he conceded a penalty before getting the card for slowing down the ruck before Tommy Makinson looked to have opened the scoring for Saints seven minutes before half-time, but the try was ruled out as the touch judge said the winger had gone into touch.

Saints came out with a point to prove early on in the second half, scoring from their opening set. A kick from Lachlan Coote forced an error from Trinity. From the error the ball was thrown from left to right before it arrived in the arms of Kevin Naiqama and he forced his way over from close range to give the hosts the lead. Makinson adding the extras from the right touchline to make it 6-0.

It wasn’t long before we added our second try. A great break down the middle from Jack Welsby saw the impressive youngster offload the ball to Theo Fages. The Frenchman then found James Bentley on his outside and the young second rower avoided a tackle before scoring next to the sticks. Makinson added the extras once again to make it 12-0.

Two minutes later Saints came close to extending their lead. Firstly Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was held up before Kyler Amor was held up underneath the sticks as well. We weren’t to be denied for much longer though as from that set Saints forced a dropout and on the last Jonny Lomax kicked low towards the left corner and Welsby won the race to score our third try of the game. Makinson added the extras from the left touchline.

A fourth try followed in the 63rd minute. Saints went down the short side on the last and Welsby’s kick was touched down by Regan Grace in the left corner. Makinson once again adding the extra two from the left touchline.

Seven minutes later Jonny Lomax found Naiqama on the wing, and the Fijian international ran 30 meters as he scored his second try of the game in the right corner. Lewis Dodd took over kicking duties with Makinson off the field, but his first attempt of the game hit the post.

Regan Grace then got his second of the game two minutes later with the try of the game. A great offload from Agnatius Paasi found Dodd and the young halfback fed Welsby who then found the Welsh winger and he finished well to the left of the sticks. Dodd added the extras.

The visitors did get a response late on, after a short pass near the Saints line allowed Jay Pitts to walk through and score. Mason Lino added the extra two, but it was Kristian Woolf’s men who came away with the comfortable two points in the end.

Match Summary:

Saints 13: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Jack Welsby, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Agnatius Paasi, Joel Thompson, James Bentley, Joe Batchelor.

Interchanges: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Kyle Amor, Lewis Dodd, Jake Wingfield.

Tries: Kevin Naiqama (42, 70), James Bentley (47), Jack Welsby (53), Regan Grace (63, 73)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (4 from 4), Lewis Dodd (1 from 2)

Sin Bin: James Bentley (17)

Wakefield 13: Ryan Hampshire, Innes Senior, Reece Lyne, Joe Arundel, Lee Kershaw, Jacob Miller, Mason Lino, David Fifita, Jordan Crowther, Tinirau Arona, James Batchelor, Jay Pitts, Joe Westerman.

Interchanges: Kyle Wood, Chris Green, Eddie Battye, Brad Walker.

Tries: Jay Pitts (75)

Conversions: Mason Lino (1 from 2)

Half time: 0-0

Full time: 34-6

Referee: James Child

Download your Matchday Programme

St.Helens R.F.C. is proud to have linked up with MatchDayInfo, the global providers of digital match day programmes, which will see the Saints Matchday E-Programme available to view on an App and new-look ‘GameHub’ platform.

The club turned to matchday e-programmes last season after seeing first hand the unsustainability of the traditional printed versions. The new digital first approach, which is clickable, printable, environmentally friendly and available FREE of charge for all fans, saw readership and engagement numbers increase and the Club has now taken the next step to improve that service once again thanks to MatchDay Info.

Our e-programmes will now also be uploaded to the MatchDayInfo App the day before each home fixture kicks-off, ready for fans to download for FREE to their Android or iPhone device.

Saints Line up

1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
1 Jack Welsby
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Theo Fages
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
17 Agnatius Paasi
11 Joel Thompson
12 James Bentley
12 Joe Batchelor
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
18 Kyle Amor
7 Lewis Dodd
18 Jake Wingfield

Wakefield Trinity Line up

1Ryan Hampshire
2Innes Senior
3Reece Lyne
4Joe Arundel
5Lee Kershaw
6Jacob Miller
7Mason Lino
8David Fifita
9Jordy Crowther
10Tinirau Arona
11James Batchelor
12Jay Pitts
13Joe Westerman
14Kyle Wood
15Chris Green
16Eddie Battye
17Brad Walker

Last updated 17 Apr 21 00:55:28

This is how we will line up this afternoon…

Thank you for joining us. Head over to our homepage and Saints TV for all the reaction!

80'

FT: 😇 Saints 34-6 Wakefield 🔵

A brilliant second half performance sees Saints pick up another two points after tries from Grace (2), Naiqama (2), Welsby and Bentley!

Stay tuned for the reaction!

#COYS

76'
Goal
Mason Lino for Wakefield Trinity

Mason Lino converts. Under five minutes left to play…

😇 Saints 34-6 Wakefield 🔵

76'
Try
Jay Pitts for Wakefield Trinity

It’s raining tries, but this time its the visitors who go over through Jay Pitts.

😇 Saints 34-4 Wakefield 🔵

74'
Goal
Lewis Dodd for Saints

Doddy this time does convert! We maybe hearing more of that in the future…

😇 Saints 34-0 Wakefield 🔵

74'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

What a TRY that is! Iggy with a break. He offloads before Welsby makes a break and offloads before Grace picks up the ball and goes over for his second of the night!

😇 Saints 32-0 Wakefield 🔵

73'

Lewis Dodd takes over from Makinson on kicking duties after Tommy had made way for Batchelor, but Doddy’s kick just strikes the sticks and bounces out.

😇 Saints 28-0 Wakefield 🔵

70'
Try
Kevin Naiqama for Saints

KEVVVYYYY! Naiqama is in for his second as he latches onto a ball from Lomax and sprints down the right touchline to go over!

😇 Saints 28-0 Wakefield 🔵

📸 Before Amazing Grace does likewise!

📸 Bentley grabbing his first try of the season earlier!

64'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson again on point with his kicking! He loves that touchline!

😇 Saints 24-0 Wakefield 🔵

63'
Try
Regan Grace for Saints

REEEEGZ! Grace gets in on the act as he latches onto a perfectly weighted Welsby grubber in the far corner to touch down in the corner!

😇 Saints 22-0 Wakefield 🔵

📸 Kevvy set us on our way!

54'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson again kicks the extras from the touchline. That was Roby’s last involvement for now as Lewis Dodd is on in his place! Come on Doddy!

😇 Saints 18-0 Wakefield 🔵

53'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

We are in again! Roby this time with a lovely grubber through and Welsby is there to touch down in the left corner!

😇 Saints 16-0 Wakefield 🔵

51'

We are on the up here and LMS so nearly goes over but he is held up…We will come again!

😇 Saints 12-0 Wakefield 🔵

48'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson adds the extras to extend our lead!

😇 Saints 12-0 Wakefield 🔵

47'
Try
James Bentley for Saints

A great break from Welsby finds Fages who offloads brilliantly to the supporting James Bentley. He ducks under one challenge to go over!

😇 Saints 10-0 Wakefield 🔵

42'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Makinson who is again on kicking duties this evening nails the extras from the touchline! What a kick.

😇 Saints 6-0 Wakefield 🔵

42'
Try
Kevin Naiqama for Saints

THAT’S MORE LIKE IT! Whatever the boss said at half time has worked as Naiqama powers his way over on this right side! Get in!

😇 Saints 4-0 Wakefield 🔵

41'

We are back underway here at the Totally Wicked! Come on boys, let’s go win this game!

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

40'

HT: 😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

It’s been a scrappy opening 40 with neither side able to find that elusive breakthrough.

📸 It’s a battle so far! Can we find that first score before the break?

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

33'

We are back up to 13 as Bentley returns to the field whilst Amor and LMS are on for Batchelor and Paasi and Wingfield is on for Big Al!

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

28'

We get it back, but Roby kicks out on the full. Time to defend, boys!

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

25'

Saints keep the ball alive on the last, but Makinson is trapped as Trinity defend it well.

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

22'

Both sides exchange sets here as we look for the opener! Come on, boys!

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

17'
Yellow Card
James Bentley for Saints

Saints are down to 12 as Bentley is sent to the bin for apparent back-chat to referee James Child.

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

14'

No we can’t as Trinity defend it well. They come forward and kick on the last, but Cooooote is there to smother.

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

12'

We have a chance here with a set in the Trinity half before we win our own set restart…COYS!

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

7'

Saints penalised for a knock on and Trinity have it back in their own half before they win the first set restart of the game…

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

7'

Saints penalised for a knock on and Trinity have it back in their own half before they win the first set restart of the game…

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

4'

Wakefield kick out on the full and we have our first attack, but the high kick is grasped by the Trinity full back and we are now on the defensive.

😇 Saints 0-0 Wakefield 🔵

1'

We are off and underway!

#COYS

Ahead of kick off we will observe a minute’s silence and pay tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. Our flag is flying at half mast out of respect. ❤️

Great to see young Jake Wingfield get a shot this evening! Go get em, Wingy! 👊

#COYS

The boys are out for their warm up routine! Kick off is 6pm!

LMS will make his 400th career appearance this evening! Well in, Louie!

Head over to our Twitter or Facebook pages to hear from the Boss Kristian Woolf who has given us an insight into his team selection for tonight’s game!

This is how we will line up this afternoon…

We will have team news for you right here at approximately 4:30pm! Who do you think will start?…

We also have all the pre-match chatter available in our Matchday Preview story. Just head to our News section to read all about today’s game including details of how you can watch if you are a 2021 Member and have a code

Head over to our homepage, or simply scan the QR code on the image below to have a read of our Matchday E-Programme ahead of this evening’s game! You can also view on the MatchdayInfo App available on the App Store!

Hello and welcome to our Totally Wicked Stadium as we host Wakefield in Betfred Super League Round 3. The game is being streamed on Our League for 2021 Members of both Clubs only, but you can follow all the action here!