Saints lost in France

WOOLF WANTS CURE FOR TRAVEL SICKNESS 22

KRISTIAN WOOLF says St Helens need to cure their travel sickness after a shock first defeat of the season at bottom club Toulouse.

The champions lost their unbeaten run last season at Catalans Dragons and this year at Stade Ernest-wallon.

St Helens coach Woolf said: “It’s true our first losses of both seasons have been in France and we need to find out the reasons why.

“But let’s not take any credit from Toulouse, they were excellent and there are going to be lots of teams who come here and lose this season.

“It’s a difficult place to come to and their supporters really get behind them. We’ll have to learn some lessons from this quickly.”

Saints stumbled from the start, fumbling the kick-off and handed possession to Toulouse, who switched the ball left where winger Matty Russell struck in the corner for the opening score in the first minute. Chris

Hankinson landed the touchline conversion. It didn’t last long, though, and a 70-metre break by Konrad Hurrell, bravely halted by Toulouse full-back Olly Ashall-bott, created the space for Tommy Makinson to stride over – but he was unable to convert.

Josh Simm latched on to a long pass to score in the opposite corner to put Saints ahead in the 17th minute but Toulouse hit back straight from the restart as the kick-off bounced straight into touch. Tony Gigot threaded a grubber kick through the defence for Dominique Peyroux to score his first try against his old club. Hankinson’s conversion put the Olympians 12-8 up.

But St Helens went ahead just before half-time when Makinson set off on a mazy 30-metre dash which created the space for full-back Jack Welsby to cross the line unopposed.

Just two points separated the teams at the interval but the addition of hooker James Roby seemed to inspire Saints. He was involved in the break that saw fellow subs Jake Wingfield and Daniel Norman combine for the next try, Norman touching down and Lewis Dodd converting to make it 12-20.

But Toulouse scrum-half Lucas Albert came up with two killer plays to put his side back in the game.

The first a 60m kick fielded by Simm, who was bundled into touch by the flag, then a slick delayed pass to put Hankinson over for a try he converted himself.

Attack

At 18-20 with 10 minutes to play the game was wide open and three penalties in a row conceded by St Helens put Toulouse on the attack, and when winger Paul Marcon crossed in the right corner from a booming Gigot pass, pandemonium broke out among French fans with fireworks and smoke billowing across the pitch.

Hankinson couldn’t see through the smoke to land the touchline conversion – but the Olympians held on.

TOULOUSE: Tries: Russell, Peyroux, Hankinson, Marcon. Cons: Hankinson (3) ST HELENS: Tries: Makinson, Simm, Welsby, Norman. Cons: Dodd (2).