Saints move into top four by beating 12-man Giants

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (10) 10

Tries: Wallis, Bibby Goal: Russell

St Helens (6) 18

Tries: Lomax, Mata'utia, Robertson Goals: Bennison 3

St Helens climbed back into the Super League top four as they came from behind to beat 12-man Huddersfield in a game which turned on youngster Fenton Rogers' late first-half red card.

After tries from Elliot Wallis and Jake Bibby, the Giants were 10-6 in front when substitute Rogers received a 39th-minute red card from referee Aaron Moore for a high shot on Saints winger Tee Ritson.

Saints then took full advantage as they scored 12 unanswered second-half points.

Sione Mata'utia and Harry Robertson added to Jonny Lomax's score, while Jon Bennison kicked three goals. But Saints also ended the game down to 12 men after Noah Stephens’ late sin-binning.

Saints are now level on points with fifth-placed Salford as they head into next Friday's derby at third-placed Warrington, who they trail by six points - with three games left.

For ninth-placed Huddersfield, it was a 16th defeat in 24 league games this season.

Sione Mata'utia scored the second of St Helens' three tries at the John Smith's Stadium

St Helens made a good start against confidence-sapped Giants, who had been thumped 60-10 by Salford a week earlier, going in front from England stand-off Lomax’s ninth-minute try from an assst by Moses Mbye.

But home full-back Tui Lolohea supplied the pass for winger Wallis to touch down by the corner flag after 22 minutes - and, when rookie full-back Robertson spilled Adam Clune’s high ball, Giants punished the error as Lolohea created a try on the opposite flank for Bibby, which Oliver Russell this time converted.

The momentum then shifted when Rogers was sent off 38 seconds before the interval hooter.

Team-mates rushed to console him as he trudged off with referee Moore subjected to boos as the sides left the field.

Saints soon profited from the extra man with a quickfire double on the restart when centre Mata’utia touched down after 50 minutes after an angled run. And, five minutes later, teenager Robertson atoned for his earlier error by finishing off Ritson’s right-wing raid for his first senior try - although Lomax’s initial pass to Ritson looked forward.

Bennison's third conversion earned Saints a two-score cushion before Stephens’ 71st-minute yellow card for a professional foul - but Saints saw it out.

Huddersfield: Lolohea; Wallis, Marsters, Naiqama, Bibby; Clune, Russell; Hill, Golding, Greenwood, Hewitt, Rushton, Cudjoe

Interchanges: Rush, Ikahihifo, Livett, Rogers

Red card: Rogers (39)

St Helens: Robertson; Ritson, Blake, Mata'utia, Bennison; Lomax, Mbye; Walmsley, Burns, Lees, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles

Interchanges: Paasi, Delaney, Vaughan, Stephens

Sin-bin: Stephens (71)

Referee: Aaron Moore.