Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook scored in the dying minutes to give Saints a hard fought 24-18 victory over Wakefield Trinity at The Mobile Rocket Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
An early mistake from Wakefield meant that there was pressure from the off. Morgan Knowles went over from a short Theo Fages pass to open the scoring.
Despite Saints looking in control for the first twenty minutes, it was Wakefield who scored next. Tom Johnstone scored his first of two tries with a trademark flying finish in the corner to make it 6-4.
It was then Johnstone’s England team mate, Tommy Makinson, who regained the lead for Saints after a cut-out ball from Lachlan Coote meant he could score in the corner untouched.
The lead didn’t last long as minutes later, Matty Ashurst broke the line and offloaded it to Jacob Miller who then passed it to Johnstone to make it 10-10.
Both teams suffered injuries in the last ten minutes of the half, with Alex Walmsley leaving the field for a concussion test and Craig Huby possibly dislocating his shoulder.
After the break, Danny Brough gave Wakefield the lead for the first time in the game when he kicked a penalty from 40 metres out.
A mistake from Wakefield gave Saints field position and they capitalised with Coote once again the provider for a Regan Grace try. Mark Percival couldn’t add the extras which made it 14-12.
Tommy Makinson scored his second to extend their lead and Percival once again couldn’t convert. Wakefield then tied the game with 10 minutes to go after a smart move from Danny Brough, switching the play to put Bill Tupou through.
Coote kicked the ball out of play from the restart to give Brough the chance to take a kick at goal. He pulled it just wide.
Golden point was looming and with two minutes to go, Coote’s attempted drop goal fell short but managed to stay in play giving Saints good field position. A strong defensive set meant that Wakefield were not in range for a drop goal.
Great work from Jonny Lomax led to Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook winning the match for Saints in the final minute.
FOUR POINTERS
Much improved Wakefield
There was a lot of doom and gloom last week from Wakefield supporters after their defeat away to London. Despite another defeat, Wakefield fans left the game in a much more positive mood after running St Helens close. Halfback pairing Danny Brough and Jacob Miller were particularly impressive for Trinity.
Injury worries for both sides
Craig Huby returned after missing last week’s game to London. He looked impressive the time he was on the pitch but left the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder. Alex Walmsley left the field just before half time with what looked to be a head knock. He returned for the second half but you could tell something was not right with him.
Danny Brough and his discipline
For the second week in a row, Danny Brough was sin-binned. Coach Chris Chester has urged Brough to rein it in but if he hasn’t learned at 36, then it’s unlikely he ever will.
Danny Richardson to return?
Neither Jonny Lomax or Theo Fages did anything wrong to warrant being dropped but Justin Holbrook could be tempted to start Danny Richardson in their next game. Mark Percival kicked two out of five conversions and Lachlan Coote kicked two restarts out on the full as well as an in-field kick out on the full while Richardson was very consistent with the boot last year.
SCORERS
Wakefield Trinity 18
Tries:ย Johnstone (2) Tupou
Goals: Brough (3)
Drop Goals:ย n/a
St Helens 24
Tries:ย Knowles, Makinson (2), Grace, McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Goals:ย Percival (2)
Drop Goals: n/a
SQUADS
Wakefield Trinity:ย Hampshire; Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Tupou, Johnstone; Miller, Brough; Fifita, Wood, England, Ashurst, Kirmond, Arona.
Interchanges:ย Horo, Kopczak, Huby, King.
St Helens:ย Coote; Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Thompson, Roby, Walmsley, Peyroux, Taia, Knowles.
Interchanges:ย Paulo, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Lees.
