St Helens completed a perfect home record for the 2019 season as they eased to victory over a struggling Huddersfield side.
MATCH DETAILS
It was the two big prop forwards who go Saints off to the perfect start. Alex Walmsley took it to the line before offloading to his England partner, Luke Thompson, to score underneath the posts.
There was some worry for Saints though as Mark Percival was taken off with a head injury just after the try and he never returned.
It was then the half-backs turn to link up as Theo Fages and Jonny Lomax teamed up to find space for Dominique Peyroux to score.
Lachlan Coote was heavily involved in the early parts of the game and Saints took their lead to three tries of the back of a superb 40/20. Regan Grace then scored in the corner of a long floating Fages pass.
A long range try came in the unlikely form of Morgan Knowles who raced away from 50 metres out to make the score 24-0.
Huddersfield got their first try of the game through Michael Lawrence who barged over from close range to make it 24-6 at the break.
Kyle Amor then got in on the scoring action after half time as he powered over from a Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook offload.
Thompson scored his second of the night in familiar fashion first using his strength to force his away over to score.
Saints scored their seventh of the night through Jonny Lomax. He found a gap in the Huddersfield defence after Fages had dropped the ball backwards.
Tommy Makinson then got in on the scoring action. Kevin Naiqama made a break down the right hand side before committing a defender for the winger to do what he does best.
FOUR POINTERS
Giants not safe yet
There are four teams who are all level on 20 points as we go into the last round. Huddersfield sit third from bottom on points difference and there is every possibility that they could be the team going down next week. The big score Saints put on them could be the difference between relegation and survival.
Record breakers
What a season St Helens have had in the regular season. The victory means that they have won every game at home this season and have won the league by the biggest margin ever. Surely they can’t go on to lose two games at home and miss out on a Grand Final appearance.
Coote
The Australian was back to his best and this game was maybe an indicator that he was not fully fit two weeks ago at Wembley. He was influential in attack and directed the defensive line in front of him. It’s important he gets a good run of games before the play-offs.
Giants potential
If the Giants are to stay up then they definitely have something to build on. Their squad is a youthful with the likes of Matty English, the Senior Twins, Oliver Wilson and Oliver Russell getting valuable game time. They will all be better for this if they are to be in Super League again next season.
THE RESULT
St Helens 48
Tries: Thompson 2, Peyroux, Grace, Knowles, Amor, Lomax, Makinson
Goals: Coote (8)
Drop Goals: n/a
Huddersfield 6
Tries: Lawrence
Goals: Russell
Drop Goals:n/a
SQUADS
St Helens>: Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Fages, Lomax, Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Knowles
Interchanges: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Ashworth, Bentley
Huddersfield Giants: McIntosh, Senior, Wardle, Mellor,McGillvary, Russell,Holmes, Matagi, O’Brien, Clough,Hewitt, Ta’ai, Lawrence
Interchanges: Leeming, Ikahihifo,Kirby,Wilson
