Round 14
St Helens 34 d. Warrington Wolves 22

2006 English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: English Super League

Saints re-open six-point lead
Sun May 14, 2006
Source: www.saintsrlfc.com

Saints maintained their unbeaten record at home against Warrington Wolves in the Super League era, but had to withstand a strong fightback from the visitors who recorded the highest score against Saints in 2006.

18 of their points came in 22 second-half minutes that reduced the deficit to just four, as Saints teetered on the brink of their second successive defeat.

Right winger Henry Fa'afili touched down following great work from ex-Saint Martin Gleeson, then left winger Richie Barnett squeezed down the touchline to score. Barnett was then denied a second when Leon Pryce tackled him as he dived for the ball over the line, but the video referee intervened, awarding a penalty try.

Lee Briers's third conversion brought the score to 26-22 with fourteen minutes remaining, and it looked like the Wolves had the momentum to go on to win the game. However Saints' defensive resolve is remarkably strong, and they prevented the visitors from scoring again, despite being put under relentless pressure.

With less than two minutes remaining, Ade Gardner was able to break up Warrington's final attack with an interception before racing downfield to seal the victory.

It relieved the tension for most of the 13,250 crowd, who had expected a much easier second half after Saints had built up a large interval lead.

Lee Gilmour's try from Sean Long's crossfield kick had equalised Michael Sullivan's early score, as both teams played conservatively in a nervy opening.

The introduction of Matty Smith for Jon Wilkin, with Pryce switching to full-back, gave the Saints team a better balance, and the improvement was immediate.

Gilmour scored his second after James Roby's break, before the Yorkshireman eschewed the chance of a hat-trick when he unselfishly set up Gardner.

With Warrington hanging on for half-time, Saints scored their third in eight minutes when Pryce and Long combined in midfield to send Vinnie Anderson clear.

At 26-4 it appeared that Saints were not missing their injured sextet of Paul Wellens, Willie Talau, Francis Meli, Paul Anderson, Mike Bennett and Maurie Fa'asavalu, all missing through injury, but the second half provided enough anxious moments for Saints to hope that at least some of these return for next week's Powergen Challenge Cup tie against Bradford Bulls.

Report source: www.saintsrlfc.com

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