Saints slay Dragons
ST HeLeNS shrugged off the absence of superstar full back Ben Barba to beat Catalans Dragons and open up a four-point gap at the top of the table. The leaders had scored more tries in their last two games than Catalans had managed all season. Barba was carried off in the second of those thrashings at Salford last week and, though there was no serious damage done, he was not quite ready for last night’s match. And Saints lacked their usual fluency without their main man. ‘We weren’t at our best,’ admitted coach Justin Holbrook. ‘But we were good enough to win.’ Catalans’ form had picked up recently, with two wins in their last four games, but the tone was set for a miserable display when Samisoni Langi spilled Saints’ kick-off. Jonny Lomax, a high-class replacement for Barba at full back, scored the opening try after a delicate side-foot kick from Tommy Makinson. The winger had a try of his own when he leapt to grab Danny Richardson’s high kick. Catalans were struggling to escape their half but a penalty handed them some territory and they took advantage through Brayden Wiliame. Morgan Knowles struck straight back to give Saints a 16-4 lead at half-time. Catalans had been poor and were lucky to still be in the game. Regan grace scored his sixth try of the season just after half-time but Jodie Broughton narrowed the gap for Dragons. grace’s second try of the night and his seventh of the season gave Saints breathing space before Lewis Tierney’s late consolation for the visitors.