St Helens eased to victory over Wakefield to progress to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
MATCH DETAILS
It was not long before Saints got their first of the game after Jonny Lomax broke through the Wakefield defence on Saints’ first set to feed Lachlan Coote to score.
Debutant Jack Croft hit back for Trinity with his first touch in senior rugby after evading a poor attempted tackle from Wes Naiqama to make the score 6-6.
A strong run from Alex Walmsley put Wakefield on the back foot and resulted them in conceding a penalty. Coote converted to edge Saints ahead.
Wonderful play from Danny Richardson set up Tommy Makinson to score acrobatically in the corner.
Wakefield looked to hit back immediately once again but a stray pass was picked up Dom Peyroux who gave the ball to Naiqama. He was stopped just metres from the line but on the next play the ball ended up with Morgan Knowles who somehow ended up on the wing to score.
Ryan Hampshire was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul and Coote once again added another two through a penalty.
Saints made the extra man count with Regan Grace furthering Wakefield misery with a try before half time with a simple put down in the corner to make the score 26-6.
Wakefield reduced the deficit after the break with a pinpoint grubber from Danny Brough touched down by Tyler Randell.
The rest of the game was all Saints as they started to run riot. Zeb Taia started to turn on the style as he first took a flat pass from Joseph Paulo to score.
He then dummied and swatted off Danny Brough to feed Coote who passed to a supporting Mark Percival to mark his return to the side with a try.
It was a poor Wakefield pass again which led to Saints’ eighth try. Once again it was Taia who picked the ball up and assisted Jonny Lomax.
Naiqama put the cherry on the cake with a try in the final minutes to make the final score 48-10.
FOUR POINTERS
Like a fine wine
Zeb Taia celebrated his new contract extension with a man of the match performance. Eyebrows could have been raised after the 34 year old was given a year extension but the Cook Islands international showed what he is capable of with an outstanding performance.
No stopping them
It will take a special performance from an opposition or a woeful performance from Saints to prevent them from picking up aย major trophy this season. It will be interesting to see who they draw in the semi. A semi against Warrington would be a mouthwatering clash.
Injuries cost Wakefield
This clash could have been a potential banana skin for Saints when it was first drawn but injuries to key players made it an unlikely upset. A Wakefield side with the likes of Bill Tupou, Tom Johnstone, Max Jowitt and David Fifita would have made it a much more interesting affair.
Play-off focus
One positive from being knocked out of the Cup is that Wakefield can now focus on getting in the top five. Get some of their strike players back and it is entirely possible.
THE RESULT
St Helens 48
Tries:ย Coote, Makinson, Knowles, Grace, Taia, Percival, Lomax, Naiqama
Goals: Coote (8)
Drop Goals: n/a
Wakefield 10
Tries: Croft, Randell
Goals: Brough
Drop Goals: ย n/a
SQUADS
St Helens : Coote, Makinson, Grace, Naiqama, Percival, Lomax, Richardson, Walmsley, Roby, Thompsonย Peyroux, Taia, Knowles.
Interchanges: Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lees, Ashworth.
Wakefield:
Hampshire, Kershaw, Lyne, Croft, Jones-Bishop, Miller, Brough, England, Randell, Kopczak, Kirmond, Ashurst, Tanginoa.
Interchanges:ย Crowther, Wood, King, Hirst.
