RUGBY LEAGUE ROUND-UP:
FROM Super League Grand Final wins to lifting the Challenge Cup at Wembley, ST HELENS fans have had better weeks. After first-team coach Keiron Cunningham was sacked on Monday, they needed a reaction against WIGAN.
A spirited performance was there but the result was not as their arch-rivals ran out 29-18 winners at the DW Stadium.
Saints’ cause was not helped after Kyle Amor’s red card for a high tackle on Liam Marshall left them a man short just 12 minutes into the encounter.
‘ It just wasn’t a red card,’ protested Saints caretaker boss Jamahl Lolesi.
‘We didn’t get lots of other calls throughout the game. I didn’t think the officiating was great and I thought it affected what was going to be a great game.’
Wigan exploited the advantage as a Joe Burgess try and a penalty from Morgan Escare gave the hosts an 8-2 lead at the break.
If there is a positive to take out of this week for St Helens, it was the performance of debutant Regan Grace. The Welshman’s thunderous break led to Morgan Knowles’s try, and Grace was able to cross himself after Escare had hit a drop goal and Marshall touched down for Wigan.
‘I’m not really bothered how we play in a game like that, we just wanted to get two points,’ said Shaun Wane, whose Wigan side scored again through both Burgess and Marshall, before Liam Farrell coasted through the Saints defence.
‘Lots of credit needs to go to St Helens,’ he added. ‘They had a real dig at us.’
Wigan bounced back from last week’s defeat against CASTLEFORD, who continued their impressive start to the Super League season with a 42-24 victory over rivals WAKEFIELD TRINITY.
Wakefield took the lead through David Fifita, but the Tigers hit back through braces from Grant Millington and Jake Webster, and solo scores for Oliver Holmes and Ben Roberts.
Luke Gale was the architect for Castleford’s dominance, and the England pivot kicked impeccably for his seven goals, while Roberts was equally creative alongside him in the halves. Wakefield tried to make a comeback as Fifita — a menace throughout — crossed for his double and Ben JonesBishop added an acrobatic touchline finish.
That was quickly quelled as Greg Eden added his 12th try of the season late on to ensure the Tigers secured their eighth win of the campaign.
Ben Jones-Bishop’s spectacular late airborne score could do nothing to change the outcome, with Castleford well ahead by then.
Elsewhere, LEEDS romped to a 52-24 win away to HULL FC. Liam Sutcliffe kicked nine goals and Joel Moon scored twice to leave Hull winless in three outings.
Tries from Kris Welham and Gareth O’Brien saw SALFORD RED DEVILS claim a 12-6 win over LEIGH CENTURIONS.