Super League: Wakefield Trinity 24-20 St Helens

Liam Finn enjoyed a fine day with the boot to help Wakefield to victory

Wakefield held off a spirited fightback from Super League leaders St Helens to end their run of five defeats.

The visitors got off the the perfect start when Mark Percival went over in the first minute but scores from Ben Jones-Bishop, Reece Lyne, Justin Horo and Bill Tupou put the hosts in charge.

Tommy Makinson and Percival's second got Saints back in the contest before the break.

Luke Douglas closed the gap further but Trinity were not to be denied.

Victory for Chris Chester's men consigned the leaders to just their second defeat of the season.

The hosts took the game away from Saints when they ran in four unanswered tries in 18 first-half minutes, with Tupou's powerful effort the pick of the bunch.

The visitors threatened to cap a superb comeback when Danny Richardson's kick reduced the gap to two points but Liam Finn knocked over his fourth goal of the day and the hosts managed to hang on despite late pressure.

Wakefield visit Salford on Friday while Saints will look to get back to winning ways when they host struggling Huddersfield the same night.

Wakefield coach Chris Chester:

"I aged about 10 years in the last five minutes but I couldn't be more proud of my players.

"We've been there or thereabouts for the last five games and it's nice to win a tight one today. I feel we deserve it and it will do the players a world of good.

"I'm really pleased, it means I can sleep a bit better tonight.

"The players copped a fair bit but they stuck together and came up with a really good performance. Barring the first couple of minutes, I thought we were very good."

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook:

"I was disappointed with our effort today. It was a close game but we couldn't come away with the win.

"Full credit to Wakefield, I thought they just worked harder than us.

"Obviously we kept going to the end but when you look back (at) that 18-minute period, it cost us. It was unlike us to let some soft tries in."

Wakefield: Grix, Jones-Bishop, Lyne, Arundel, Tupou, Miller, Finn, Huby, Randell, Hirst, Ashurst, Kirmond, Horo.

Replacements: Wood, England, Arona, Baldwinson.

St Helens: Barba, Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Amor, Smith, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin.

Replacements: Fages, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Knowles.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (RFL).