Super Saints closing in on final dream
TRAUMATIC does not do justice to life at St Helens this season, but they now stand just 80 minutes away from a recordextending 11th Grand Final appearance.
Legendary former Saints hooker Keiron Cunningham was axed as head coach just two months into the campaign after a miserable run.
Australian Justin Holbrook was brought in as his replacement and has proved more than up to the task, with last night’s win sealing a top-four finish and subsequent play-off semi-final spot, barring a miracle.
It would take Hull to beat Castleford tonight and Wigan to beat Wakefield by a ridiculous margin tomorrow to scupper St Helens’ chances. Last night, Salford shot themselves in the foot near the end of the first half when Ryan Lannon was sent off for a high shot on Theo Fages. Saints took advantage to eke out a win which lifted them to third.
With Salford’s play-off hopes already over, this clash for them was about restoring pride and ending on a high.
Ian Watson’s side went into the match on the back of five losses in six games during the Qualifiers, the latest of those being an abject surrender at Leeds six days previously.
Nevertheless, they led inside the fourth minute when St Helens full-back Ben Barba knocked on clumsily and, from the subsequent scrum, Gareth O’Brien drove at the heart of the visitors’ defence and ushered Niall Evalds over in the left corner.
Saints gradually steadied themselves and hit back in the 17th minute when
SALFORD ST HELENS
Barba atoned for his earlier error. He produced some clever footwork to create the space for Mark Percival to saunter clear.
It was a fitting way for the England centre to mark his 100th appearance for the Saints and the visitors began to move through the gears.
Although Salford winger Manu Vatuvei had a try disallowed for a knock-on in the build-up, Saints grabbed their second try when England World Cup hopeful Alex Walmsley showed brute strength to barrel over.
Salford’s illdiscipline began to hurt them badly and, after they were placed on a team warning by referee James Child, the Red Devils had Lannon sent off for his vicious late, high shot on playmaker Fages in the 35th minute.
With Percival adding two goals, St Helens were 12-4 up at the break and facing a Salford side reduced to 12 men for the remainder of the game.
The Red Devils, to their credit, refused to throw in the towel during the second half and the visitors found it tough to break them down.
Regan Grace looked to have dived over for a third St Helens try as the hour approached but his foot was just in touch when he touched down and Salford survived.
Not for long, as Zeb Taia scored the visitors’ third try. Walmsley barrelled over for his second and Barba nipped in to put the icing on the cake.