Salford fail to cope with Saints’ talisman Roby
EVERGREEN HOOKER James Roby continued his remarkable start to the season with a brace of tries as St Helens maintained their 100 per cent start with a 26-4 win over Salford to go top of the table.
The 33-year-old England international went into the fourth round of Betfred Super League with a two-point lead in the 2019 Steve Prescott Man of Steel race and was again at the heart of his side’s efforts.
Salford, who have the smallest squad in Super League, were hit by a spate of injuries even before kick-off.
Coach Ian Watson was forced to make a late change with Daniel Murray drafted in at loose forward after George Griffin tore a hamstring in the warm-up and captain Lee Mossop, hobbled off after six minutes.
The Red Devils also lost substitute prop Greg Burke with a cut head, although he was able to return for the start of the second half, when his side were trailing 16-0, while talismanic half-back Jackson Hastings went off 10 minutes from the end with a head knock.
St Helens second rower Dominique Peyroux had an early try disallowed for obstruction but there was no stopping England centre Mark Percival from opening the scoring after 18 minutes, outjumping Derrell Olpherts to collect the ball from Theo Fages’ high kick and touch down.
Fages was also the provider when stand-off Jonny Lomax dummied his way over for Saints’ second try while skipper Roby did it all himself when he forced his way over from dummy half for his team’s third try two minutes before half-time.
Lachlan Coote kicked two conversions.
The Red Devils got a score back when Olpherts turned the tables on Percival, leaping above him to touch down Robert Lui’s towering kick on 53 minutes.
However, Ken Sio’s conversion attempt struck the outside of an upright and Saints quickly restored their 16-point lead, carving out an unopposed run to the corner for left winger Regan Grace to score their fourth try.
Makinson missed another chance to reach his century when he was brought down short of the line but Roby went over in the next play to register his second try and Coote kicked a third goal.