Super League: St Helens 2-6 Warrington Wolves - Wire edge to narrow win at Saints
- Published
Warrington Wolves had to work hard to defend their four-point lead in a frantic second half against St Helens
Betfred Super League |
|---|
St Helens (2) 2 |
Goals: Coote |
Warrington (6) 6 |
Tries: Currie Goals: Widdop |
Warrington Wolves put in a fine defensive display to edge an away victory at St Helens and keep up the pressure on the Super League top three.
The visitors led in a cagey first half which saw Ben Currie run in a fine score to catch Saints out.
St Helens struggled to break down a resilient Warrington defence after the break as Steve Price's side held firm.
Tommy Makinson went over in the corner late on for Saints, but Jonny Lomax's pass in the build-up was forward.
The result means Warrington remain in fourth position despite beating a formidable Saints side who slip to third in the table after only their second defeat of the campaign.
Wigan move up a place to second courtesy of St Helens' loss, which was their first at home this season and came despite a thrilling - yet scoreless - second period.
Lachlan Coote kicked Saints' only points in a first half in which the hosts struggled to match their opponents, who were good value for their lead at the break.
The Wire beat Saints twice in 2020, once in the league and once in the cup, however Kristian Woolf's side had lost just once this term coming into the meeting but had not played for nearly two weeks after their match with Leeds was postponed last week.
The hosts kept the pressure on after the break as they hammered the Wire and dominated the possession.
Saints were left fuming late on as Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook pounced on a loose ball spilled by Toby King, who held up play when he signalled for treatment soon after losing possession.
St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"I thought we were off tonight, to be honest. I didn't think we started well and I thought we looked out of sorts.
"We didn't look as connected as we have done in the past couple of weeks attack-wise. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
"I thought we tried really hard in the second half but the pressure releases against the opposition let us down at times."
Warrington Wolves boss Steve Price told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"It was a tough game of footy. We've got a huge amount of respect for St Helens and they're champions for a reason.
"I thought we dominated the first half in terms of field position and what we set out ourselves to be as a team and it flipped in the second half we had to defend our tryline.
"They're the number one attacking team for a reason and I'm proud of our boys for showing a huge amount of resilience."
St Helens: Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Welsby, Grace, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Mata 'Utia, Knowles.
Interchanges: Amor, Paasi, Batchelor, Dodd.
Warrington: Ratchford, Lineham, Mamo, King, Charnley, Austin, Widdop, Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Philbin.
Interchanges: Mulhern, Davis, Akauola, Walker.