Sam Taylor reviews St Helens’ comfortable victory against Toronto.ย Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 8th | Try Jonny Lomax (St Helens) | St Helens 4-0 |
| 9th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 6-0 |
| 23rd | Try Jonny Lomax (St Helens | St Helens 10-0 |
| 24th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 12-0 |
| 28th | Try James Bentley (St Helens) | St Helens 16-0 |
| 29th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 18-0 |
| 39th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 20-0 |
| 57th | Try Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (St Helens) | St Helens 24-0 |
| 58th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 26-0 |
| 67th | Red card Bodene Thompson (Toronto Wolfpack) | St Helens 26-0 |
| 68th | Try Aaron Smith (St Helens) | St Helens 30-0 |
| 69th | Goal Tommy Makinson (St Helens) | St Helens 32-0 |
MATCH SUMMARY
St Helens put the disappointment of just falling short against Sydney behind them as they put in a convincing win against Toronto as they now focus on defending their Super League title.
Toronto coughed possession up a number of times early in the first half as they tried to get the ball out wide to Liam Kay in stormy conditions. This meant St Helens were completely on top from the start. Jonny Lomax opened the scoring using fancy footwork to evade the tackle attempt of Gladwin Springer to open the scoring.
Lomax then scored basically a carbon copy of his first try once again stepping the Wolfpack defenders to score without a hand being laid on him.
Saints were exposing the gaps in the Toronto defence and this time it was James Bentley who touched down from a scrum.
Bentley was having his best game in a Saints shirt but was forced off with a foot injury just before half time.
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook won a penalty on the stroke of half time which Tommy Makinson converted to make the score at half time 20-0.
The second half then became a scrappy affair as rain combined with blustery winds to create difficult playing conditions.
McCarthy-Scarsbrook then burst through the line from ten metres out and stretched out to score the first points of the second half.
Bodene Thompson was sent off with around 15 minutes remaining as his shoulder charge made contact directly with Matty Lees head.
Saints took advantage of the extra man as Aaron Smith scooted and beat a number of players to make the final score 32-0.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
A joint effort between James Bentley and Zeb Taia stopped superstar Sonny Bill Williams in his tracks. His forced offload ending up giving Saints possession because of the force of the collision. Bentley was outstanding in the first half before going off injured.
THE RESULT
Toronto Wolfpack 0
Tries: n/a
Goals:ย n/a
Drop Goals: n/a
St Helens 32
Tries: Lomax (2), Bentley, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Smith
Goals: Makinson (6)
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Toronto Wolfpack: Gigot, Kay, Wallace, Leutele, Russell; O’Brien, McCrone; Sidlow, Ackers, Springer, Thompson, Williams, Wilkin.
Interchanges:ย Mullally, Olbison, Miloudi, Wells
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Naiqama, Bentley, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Knowles.
Interchanges: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lees, Paulo, Smith
