St. Helens

[Druzik]

All news related to St. Helens here.

[Druzik]

www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3086277

Shaun McRae was powerless to prevent Salford City Reds sliding to another dismal defeat on his return to Knowsley Road as St Helens cantered to victory with a seven-try blitz.

Australian McRae enjoyed a highly successful spell as Saints coach between 1996 and 1998 but he is finding life altogether tougher back in the big time with Salford.

The City Reds were 38-0 behind by the time full-back Karl Fitzpatrick and debutant Andrew Thornley crossed the line in the last 10 minutes to give their supporters reason to cheer.

The scores were deserved as McRae's men never lost heart and actually showed a marked improvement on their disappointing showings in their three previous outings.

Yet once again their deficiencies were brutally exposed as Saints ran in first-half tries from Jon Wilkin (two), Leon Pryce and Chris Flannery before Ade Gardner, James Graham and Keiron Cunningham applied further scores after the restart.

Sean Long claimed five goals as Salford headed back down the East Lancs Road on the back of their fourth successive thumping and have now shipped 167 points during that miserable run.

Salford this week responded to that by giving coach McRae a vote of confidence and restoring long-serving hooker Malcolm Alker as captain.

A simple passing sequence in the 11th minute saw Cunningham find Long to his left and the scrum-half's neat offload found Wilkin advancing forward at pace to sidestep Robbie Paul and cross near the left corner.

Long added the extras but Salford began to enjoy a brief purple patch which saw them threaten to breach the St Helens line, Graham making a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Stefan Ratchford just short of the line.

The pendulum quickly swung back in Saints' favour and in the 19th minute another simple move culminated in Cunningham and Long again combining to allow Pryce to scamper over the line from 12 yards out.

Long's second goal made it 12-0 and not even a triple substitution from Salford three minutes later could halt Saints' dominance.

The hosts claimed their third score in the 36th minute when Long's high kick caused confusion in the home defence and Wilkin arrived to touch down.

Long could not add the extras but Saints added a fourth try on the stroke of half-time when Flannery finished off another sweeping move in the left corner for a score which Long again failed to convert.

Salford again battled bravely after the restart and came close to fashioning a try in the 45th minute when a crossfield kick from stand-off Jeremy Smith looked to have found Ratchford in the left corner.

Ratchford made a mess it, however, and St Helens had their fifth score five minutes later when James Roby's blistering run threatened to take him beyond the visitors' last line of defence.

Alker's fine tackle halted his progress but the ball was quickly recycled to the right flank where Long found Gardner and he burrowed his way over for a try which Long converted.

Saints youngster Gary Wheeler had a try ruled out for double movement in the 56th minute but Graham soon squeezed over the line and Cunningham went over from acting half two minutes later.

Long goaled both scores to put Saints 38-0 ahead before Fitzpatrick's 70th-minute score and Thornley's late effort - both in the left corner and both converted by Ratchford - gave Salford some semblance of respectability.

[Druzik]

www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3086285

Evergreen centre Keith Senior became only the second player to score tries in all 14 seasons of Super League but champions Leeds Rhinos lost their 100% record as St Helens gained a measure of revenge for their Grand Final defeat.

The 32-year-old marked his return from a shoulder injury with his 170th and 171st Super League tries to emulate the feat of Saints hooker Keiron Cunningham.

But Senior was overshadowed by his England team-mate Leon Pryce, who was given the honour of leading Saints out on his 100th appearance and celebrated with a polished display to help his side to their fifth win of the season.

Both teams lost their scrum-halves through injury in a feisty clash which epitomised the great rivalry between Super League’s big two that was evident in England’s World Cup flop.

Full of confidence from their opening five wins, Leeds set off at a cracking pace and dominated the opening exchanges.

Handling errors by Bryn Hargreaves and Paul Clough put Saints put under enormous early pressure and they were forced to defend heroically to keep their line intact.

But, with ball in hand, Saints looked far more threatening, especially with Pyrce calling the shots and a sublime run from the former Bradford stand-off almost got second rower Jon Wilkin over.

Leeds earned some respite but a forward pass deep inside their own half gave their opponents a perfect attacking position and Pryce took advantage to get centre Matt Gidley over for the game’s opening try.

Sean Long’s goal made it 6-0 and the Rhinos suffered a body blow after 18 minutes when scrum-half Rob Burrow was hurt attempting a tackle on his opposite number and had to be helped groggily from the field.

Leeds reshuffled, however, and struck back within five minutes through a well-worked try from Senior after second rower Carl Ablett worked a run-around with stand-off Danny McGuire.

Kevin Sinfield’s touchline conversion levelled the scores but Saints struck twice in a five-minute spell before half-time to regain control.

Second rower Chris Flannery was put through a hole in the Rhinos defence by Long and substitute James Roby was in support to touch down before Pryce went on a solo run to claim his side’s third try, with Long adding his third goal.

St Helens suffered the same fate as their opponents when Long was hurt in a tackle three minutes into the second half and had to be helped off.

There were signs of tension between the two sides in the first half and tempers began to flare when Lee Smith of Leeds and St Helens’ Lee Gilmour traded punches.

Referee Phil Bentham declined to use the yellow card and he looked to be in danger of losing control when St Helens players reacted furiously to a challenge by Leeds prop Ryan Bailey on Maurie Fa’asavalu.

The champions were the first to regain their composure and pulled a try back after 50 minutes when left winger Ryan Hall crossed after taking a long pass from full-back Brent Webb.

Sinfield converted from the touchline to cut the gap to six points and Leeds spirits rose further with the sight of Burrow re-entering the field after 55 minutes.

But Saints found their second wind and clinched victory with two further tries in the final quarter.

Pryce got Wilkin into his stride and full-back Paul Wellens linked to send teenage winger Gary Wheeler over at the corner and Flannery then broke clear to put Gidley in for his second try.

Leeds at least had the final say when Senior burst through for his second try in injury time and Sinfield added his third touchline goal to ensure his side stay top of the table on points difference.

[Druzik]

[England 3 Lions]

Lomax set for Super League bow

Source: TheRFL.co.uk

Jonny Lomax is to become the fourth teenager to make his engage Super League debut for St Helens this year.

The 19-year-old academy product, whose specialist positions are hooker and half-back, will deputise at full-back for Paul Wellens against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Belle Vue on Friday.

Wellens, one of a trio of internationals ruled out by injury, has a chronic knee problem but is hoping to delay surgery until after the busy Easter period.

“We’re trying to nurse him through,” said St Helens coach Mick Potter, who today also ruled out scrum-half Sean Long and hooker James Roby with leg and rib injuries respectively.

“It’s another opportunity for the kids. Jonny had a knee re-construction last year and we’ve eased him back at full-back with the reserves.

“His opportunity has probably come earlier than expected but he’s a good young kid and he will acquit himself well.”

Potter has already given debuts to 19-year-olds Andrew Dixon, Tom Armstrong and Matty Ashurst so far this season.

Another teenager, Gary Wheeler, will switch to scrum-half alongside Leon Pryce, with former New Zealand international Francis Meli taking over on the wing for his first match of the season after being stranded in Auckland by visa problems.

Wheeler said: “I don’t think I’ve played scrum-half but it’s not much different to stand-off. Leon will be the main person to control the team, I’ll be there to help.”

Saints also have prop Tony Puleta back from injury and hope that England front rower Maurie Fa’asavalu recovers in time from the knock he took to his face in last Friday’s 26-18 win over Leeds.

Potter today criticised the Rugby Football League’s match review panel for their decision not to charge Leeds prop Ryan Bailey over the incident which led to Fa’asavalu leaving the field badly dazed and with blood pouring from his broken nose.

The panel ruled that Fa’asavalu dipped into the tackle and that there was no intent by Bailey.

“Maurie has had to go to the hospital for a second time this morning for x-rays because his nose has not yet congealed,” said Potter.

“Apparently you are allowed to hit blokes ’accidentally’ on the head. I think it sets a dangerous precedent. It’s a real issue for me that you can get away with that.

“I understand it’s a contact sport but I’m a little disappointed that he wasn’t charged at least with a careless or reckless tackle.”

Fa’asavalu will have to pass a “head test” tomorrow before he can be cleared to face the Wildcats.

Potter expects Roby and Wellens to return for the eagerly-awaited Carnegie Challenge Cup-tie at Leeds Rhinos on Sunday week but Long remains a doubt.

[Druzik]

Once again if you look at the table.

Clubs with strong Juniors = successful

Clubs with too many imports = bottom of table.

[Marv]

Damn right druzik, Everyone knows Im not a saints fan but your right, look at their first grade side, sure they have imports but they blood youngsters too and good luck to the young lads, they are our future

[Druzik]

Mar 27, 2009 17:53:58 GMT 10 Marv said:

Damn right druzik, Everyone knows Im not a saints fan but your right, look at their first grade side, sure they have imports but they blood youngsters too and good luck to the young lads, they are our future

Nothing woring with imports, but there needs to be a good balance... Cas and Wakey are also clubs with good junior set ups and they are doing much better this season. Same with the 'Ull clubs.

[England 3 Lions]

The young five-eighth (stand-off) from Wigan looks like a future star for England.

[stxangiexjo]

That was a great game against the Bulls last week.

Saints were owned by Worrincy down the right side [2nd half].

But still top of the table ;D

[Druzik]

Apr 30, 2009 19:06:43 GMT 10 stxangiexjo said:

That was a great game against the Bulls last week.

Saints were owned by Worrincy down the right side [2nd half].

But still top of the table ;D

Heard it was, damn hard trying to get any sort of coverage out here... I need to stoop to the BBC I think... *shudder*

[Marv]

Mar 28, 2009 0:32:23 GMT 10 England 3 Lions said:

The young five-eighth (stand-off) from Wigan looks like a future star for England.

he looks a fine player, IF we can stop the inevitable burn out before he is 20 he should be wearing an England shirt sometime soon.