SAM LOVES A MATT FINISH
Gravity-defying Ashton impresses boss Burgess
SAM BURGESS lauded Matty Ashton’s acrobatics as ruthless Warrington annihilated error-ridden St Helens.
With England captain George Williams pulling the strings, they put on a second-half masterclass to set up a Challenge Cup semi-final date with Huddersfield.
Williams’ drop goal on the stroke of half-time nudged Warrington 7-6 ahead at the break.
But no one could have foreseen the carnage his side would inflict in the second period as they ran in four unanswered tries.
The pick of the bunch was England winger Ashton’s spectacular flying effort in the 55th minute.
It was his eighth of the season and boss Burgess said: “That was some try.
“He practises really hard at that – it’s not just a fluke.
“He was out there yesterday doing 50 or 60 of them. He puts a mat out. For any young kid watching, it just shows.
“I was really pleased with the team – they deserve the reward of the win as Saints are a champion side.
“There were some really big moments, like when George Williams made that try-saving play on Lewis Dodd in the first half. And going in 7-6 at half-time made a difference. But there’s more to come from us.”
Jon Bennison’s 53rd-minute penalty briefly put Saints in front. But once Jonny Lomax made a simple error at the restart – failing to see the ball dead – everything turned primrose and blue. From the resulting drop-out, Ashton produced his classic to give Wolves the ascendancy.
When Jack Welsby coughed up the ball near halfway, they were in again.
Williams’ crossfield kick eluded everyone apart from centre Connor Wrench who jubilantly touched down.
Ashton had a second effort controversially ruled out but it didn’t matter.
Welsby was caught behind his own goalline to concede yet another dropout and from there Warrington prop James Harrison bulldozed over.
They earned back-to-back tries when Matt Dufty left Dodd and Welsby for dead before providing a stunning pass for Williams to cross.
Josh Thewlis, who had opened the scoring with a 10th-minute try, slotted his fifth goal of the evening and the job was done.
Saints only crossed once via Konrad Hurrell in the 26th minute, Bennison improving, but they never truly looked like scoring again.
After losing at Catalans previously, boss Paul Wellens said: “That doesn’t sit well with me.
“I didn’t come here expecting that today. I expected a response. There’s a lot for me to think about.”