After a week off following their one-point victory over the
Leeds Rhinos in Round 20, Wakefield Trinity hosted St Helens, the side one
place above them in the table with their eyes on regaining the fourth spot that
they lost last night. when then Rhinos triumphed over Leigh Leopards.
A victory for Trinity would take them within two of their opponents
tonight but more importantly it would lift them three points clear of the
chasing Hull FC who play against Salford on Sunday.
Wakefield were slight favourites with the bookies, St Helens
with a two point start on the coupon, and it would be a brave man that would
back against them claiming the scalp of another side above them in the table.
Within a minute of Wakefield having a try ruled out for an
incorrect play the ball, Saints marched downfield and on six minutes Alex
Walmsley took a short pass to go through a big gap in the Wakefield line to go
in from five metres out. Kyle Feldt added the conversion for the ideal Saints
start to the game.
On twelve minutes Saints went in for their second when a
Moses Mybe kick wasn’t dealt with by the defenders, Dagnall took the kick on
the full before passing outside to Morgan Knowles who had an unfettered run to
the sticks. Feldt hit the mark again for 12-0.
As Saints broke downfield on twenty-three the ball was
hacked forward, Oliver Pratt holding back a chaser and seeing a yellow card for
a professional foul. Feldt accepted the invitation to add two with the boot.
Saints were running rampant. On twenty-five they exploited a
four on one break with Daryl Clark finishing a move which had started deep in the
Saints half with Jonny Lomax putting in the final pass. Feldt was again on
target, Saints disappearing into the distance as Wakefield had a bad day in the
office.
On thirty minutes George Delaney jumped into the tackle on
Lachlan Walmsley and made shoulder contact to the head, the referee believed it
was with mitigation and yellow carded the Saint.
On thirty-four, and with twelve against twelve, Walmsley
exploited an overlap down the right to take a looping Mason Lino pass to dive
over for the score. Max Jowitt was unable to add the conversion.
Nine minutes after the restart Jayden Myers decided to let a
Saints grubber to the corner bounce dead in goal but Harry Robertson took full
advantage and lunged a hand towards the ball to ground. Feldt was off target
for the first time on the night, but the lead was 24-4.
It was game over on seventy when Kyle Feldt picked up a
wayward Wakefield pass on the halfway line and cantered to the line to score
under the posts and give himself a simple conversion for 30-4.
It was all too easy on seventy-eight, Saints keeping t he
ball alive with Feldt getting his second as he took a looping pass to ground in
the corner but improving the angle for his own conversion attempt but he pushed
the ball wide.
Saints move up to fourth, retaking the position that the
lost to Leeds last night, while Wakefield are now in real danger of dropping
out of the six should the inevitable happen on Sunday and Hull FC beat a
Salford side who are currently in total disarray. Saints upset the pundits and
bookies and won this game with some ease, Daryl Powell will be left scratching his
head as Paul Wellens wears the widest of grins at his sides performance.
Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt (G 0/1), Walmsley (T), Hall, Pratt
(SB on 23), Myers, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Faatii, Griffin, Storton,
Pitts. Subs: Vagana, Atoni, Cozza, Smith. 18th Man: Rourke.
St Helens: Sailor, Feldt (2T, G 5/6), Robertson (T),
Percival, Dagnall, Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley (T), Clark (T), Lees, Sironen,
Whitley, Knowles (T). Subs: Paasi, Wingfield, Delaney (SB on 30), Burns. 18th
Man: Whitby.
Half-Time: 4-20.
Full-Time: 4-34.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, (SB), 0-14, 0-18,
0-20, (SB), 4-20 : HT: 4-24, 4-28, 4-30, 4-34 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: St Helens.
Referee: Liam Moore.
