St Helens bounced back from last week’s defeat against Leeds with a convincing 22-10 lead against Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Warrington endured their first back to back losses in nearly two years as they couldn’t overcome the first half advantage Saints earned a 14-0 lead through tries from Jordan Turner, Lance Hohaia and Francis Meli.

It looked as though the home side were going to be nilled in the first half but for Chris Bridge’s try in the last minute.

The second half proved a much tighter affair and it wasn’t until Jonny Lomax’s penalty in the 61st minute, and James Roby’s try with 10 minutes to go secured Saints’ fourth win in six games.

Bridge scored his second consolation with four minutes to go but Warrington coach Tony Smith had little to be pleased with his side’s performance.

Saints took the lead after working the left edge through Turner. Ben Westwood gave St Helens a new set of six after an attempt at the ball. From inside five metres Roby passed to the blindside from dummy half to Lomax who delayed his ball to Turner to go over in the corner.

Within five minutes of taking the lead, they extended their advantage through Hohaia’s solo effort. Making his first appearance since playing Widnes in round two, Hohaia took the ball after Saints were given another repeat set and sold a dummy to Iosia Soliola which gave him space to dart through the line to score.

Warrington came close to scoring with their first meaningful attack on 12 minutes but were undone by a knock-on from Atkins. Michael Monaghan charged down a kick and managed to get to the ball in the Saints’ half. His namesake Joel was kept out after hesitating on the right hand side, the Wolves then switched to the left but Ryan Atkins knocked on from Brett Hodgson’s pass.

Meli further increased Saints’ lead with a superb finish in the corner. His sixth try of the year came after taking Lomax’s looping pass to the wing and crashing through Stefan Ratchford and planting the ball over the line before being forced into touch.

Warrington enjoyed a spell of possession before the end of the half but Michael Monaghan knocked on from dummy half just metres from Saints’ line.

Just as it looked as though Saints were going to keep their opponents off the scoresheet in the first half Bridge scored from a set move to give his side a chance to fight back in the second half. Warrington were given a scrum for a knock on deep in Saints’ half and after playing the ball to the left hand side, Bridge had the pace to beat Soliola to score. Hodgson missed the kick leaving the Wolves with a 10 point deficit.

The second half was a much tighter affair and it wasn’t until Joe Greenwood had a try chalked off by the video referee on 53 minutes that either side threatened the line.

A penalty allowed Lomax the opportunity to put two converted scores between the two teams and slotted over from 37 metres to give the Saints a 16-4 lead.

Warrington were given a repeat set after Jones got a hand to Hodgson’s attempted pass after Riley was stopped just a metre short in the corner.

Roby put the final nail in the coffin after Chris Hill lost the ball before a tackle giving the hooker acres of space to run in to. Hill lost the ball in a tackle with Anthony Laffranchi and it popped into Roby’s hands, the England international then had the legs to beat Ratchford and score between the posts.

For the second time in the game Bridge rescued his side from being nilled in a half. From a drop out Richie Myler broke through Saints’ defence and passed to Michael Monaghan who was in support, he then played a simple ball to Bridge on his right hand side and went in to score.

The win brings Saints level on points with the Wolves in fifth place, just behind tonight’s opponents on points difference.


Warrington: Hodgson, Riley, Bridge, Atkins, J Monaghan; Ratchford, Myler; Wood, M Monaghan, Hill, Grix, Westwood, Cooper.
Replacements: Carvell, Higham, McCarthy, Currie.

T: Bridge 2
G: Hodgson 1/2

St Helens: Lomax, Gardner, Turner, Jones, Meli; Hohaia, Wilkin; Laffranchi, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Manu, Flanagan.
Replacements: Puletua, Clough, Walker, Greenwood.

T: Turner, Hohaia, Meli, Roby
G: Lomax 3/5


Referee: R Silverwood


RLFANS Man of the Match: James Roby
Attendance: 13,381

Half Time: 4-14
Full Time: 10-22