THEO THRILLS

Classy star leads way in Saints romp

I’M FLYING NOW: Wigan’s Jake Bibby finds the corner for the first try of his treble

THEO FAGES proved a thorn in Hull KR’S side again as champions St Helens made it two wins from two.

French scrum-half Fages broke Rovers’ hearts last season with a golden-point drop goal on the same ground.

And although it wasn’t that close this time, he again slotted a one-pointer in a standout display that included a try assist.

Those touches of class proved to be one of the key differences between the teams after the Robins shrugged off a sluggish start to compete fully for the majority of the game.

The match brought together the two Super League clubs that Mose Masoe played for as the competition looks to raise funds for the paralysed star and his young family.

Rovers looked to be staring down the barrel when they trailed 10-0 after less than eight minutes.

But they regrouped admirably to keep it at that scoreline by halftime, having started to threaten themselves.

Tony Smith’s side were hardly helped by experienced pro Korbin Sims, who was wearing Masoe’s name and number on his back, being withdrawn twice for head injury assessments.

Sims had to retire for his first test just over two minutes into the game and by the time he returned his side had conceded two tries.

Regan Grace showed outstanding skill for the first, taking a Jonny Lomax pass above his head and somehow staying in the field of play while stepping past Rovers full-back Adam Quinlan.

Moments later Fages split the Hull KR defence and provided a superb offload for Jack Welsby – again deputising at the back for Lachlan Coote – to finish.

Sims came back on to the field briefly before having to be tested again, but his teammates had found a footing in the game by that stage and finished contest.

It was a measure of Saints’ respect for their opponents’ defence when Tommy Makinson chose to kick a penalty shortly after half-time and Fages followed that up with a drop goal.

Twice Saints were held up over the line by excellent Rovers defence before the sin-binning of George Lawler broke their resistance, Aaron Smith touching down shortly after.

Grace completed the scoring for Saints with his second from a smart Welsby cut-out pass, and Kristian Woolf’s side already look like the team to beat again as they bid for a third consecutive title. the half fully in the

CLASH: Minikin (left) and Saints’ Grace