Owen Dagnall’s early attempt proved sufficient to ship St Helens as much as the unlikely
heights of third within the Betfred Tremendous League desk with a gruelling 6-0 win over
Leeds at AMT Headingley.
After an early season sprinkled with acrimony and questions over the way forward for head coach Paul Wellens, Saints are coming good when it issues and Dagnall’s effort sealed a fifth straight win since their defeat at Hull KR on the finish of Could.
It was an particularly gutsy win for Saints given the primary half losses of each Daryl Clark and Jake Burns with head accidents, activating 18th man Jon Bennison and requiring a shocking effort from Matty Lees who performed the entire recreation within the Saints entrance row.
For Rhinos, it was an all too acquainted story as they misplaced for the seventh straight time at dwelling to Saints in Tremendous League, and however for a disallowed effort from James McDonnell, they seldom seemed threatening within the last third.
Picture:
St Helens’ Owen Dagnall celebrates on the finish of the match through the Betfred Tremendous League Spherical 18 match towards Leeds Rhinos
Saints had already misplaced Clark, who got here off worst in a confrontation with Mikolaj Oledzki, when Dagnall seized on a scrumptious delayed move from Tristan Sailor to twist by way of two weak Leeds tackles within the fifteenth minute.
Lomax missed the conversion however added two 10 minutes later after Jake Connor was penalised for catching Harry Robertson excessive, and so they had been to show the ultimate factors on a manifestly scorching night at Headingley.
Paul Wellens felt St Helens’ shutout towards Leeds Rhinos was the very best defensive show he has seen within the 20 years on the membership
It was not the very best of nights for Connor in an in any other case stellar marketing campaign, and two consecutive free passes, aimed toward Alfie Edgell however crusing into contact, sapped Leeds’ potential to get on the scoreboard earlier than the half-time hooter.
In a uncommon second-half opening, McDonnell crossed on the proper just for his attempt to be dominated out for a push by Harry Newman within the build-up.
Brad Arthur feels Leeds Rhinos want to take a look at errors that value them towards St Helens
In any other case Leeds merely didn’t crack a resolute Saints rearguard, with Lees and teenager Harry Robertson excellent.
Leeds had been livid when referee Jack Smith took no motion for an obvious shoulder-charge by Lees on Edgell, and tempers frayed once more simply previous the hour mark when Agnatius Paasi was sin-binned for going excessive on Edgell.
Wigan Warriors 30-10 Huddersfield Giants
Highlights of the Tremendous League conflict between the Wigan Warriors and the Huddersfield Giants
Christian Wade’s first Tremendous League factors and a shocking attempt completed by Jake Wardle noticed Wigan rally from a 10-0 half-time deficit to beat Huddersfield 30-10.
On an evening when the Warriors honoured Sir Billy Boston following the knighthood bestowed within the King’s birthday honours, Huddersfield appeared decided to spoil the social gathering as first-half tries from Tui Lolohea and Jacob Gagai put them in management, with Wigan making pricey errors.
Nevertheless it all modified within the second half as union convert Wade – making his long-awaited debut after the previous England winger and NFL working again signed in April – ran in his first Wigan attempt earlier than a exceptional section of play ended with Harry Smith’s kick discovering Wardle to attain within the nook.
Wardle then added a second earlier than Tyler Dupree and Junior Nsemba wrapped up what felt like a significant win for second-placed Wigan, who got here into their first dwelling recreation in seven, having misplaced two of their earlier three. Adam Keighran transformed all 5 Wigan tries.
Billy Boston receives an excellent welcome at Wigan to rejoice Rugby League’s first knighthood
The hosts had been in a celebratory temper as Boston, who scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for the membership, was feted in a pre-match ceremony, however Huddersfield shortly ruined the temper as Lolohea leapt excessive to beat Jai Area to Matt Frawley’s hanging kick simply six minutes in.
The 34-year-old Wade, thrust into motion following accidents to Liam Marshall and Abbas Miski, confirmed some spectacular footwork when given probability to run however was additionally responsible of a fluffed catch which gifted the guests the sector place wanted for Gagai to run within the second attempt within the nineteenth minute.
Having struggled to get going, Wigan then wasted what seemed a sure attempt within the twenty eighth minute. Area lastly broke by way of the Huddersfield line with a superb dummy however his move to Liam Farrell was ahead.
Frustration elevated additional earlier than half-time when Smith’s attempt was dominated out with Patrick Mago maybe harshly deemed to have obstructed George King.
The hosts lastly bought a break 10 minutes into the second half when George Flanagan dropped a excessive kick from Smith, and Wigan shifted it left from the scrum for Wade to redeem his earlier error with a debut attempt.
It immediately felt like a special recreation and simply a few minutes later, Wigan accomplished some 11 passes earlier than Smith’s cross-field kick discovered Wardle to dive over within the nook.
Wardle bought his second of the evening within the sixty fifth minute however this was a a lot easier affair as he took a brief move from Area to bowl his approach over the road, with additional tries from Dupree and Nsemba making the scoreline seem far more snug than it might need been.
Tremendous League Spherical 18 Outcomes and Fixtures (all reside on Sky Sports activities)
Thursday July 10
Friday July 11
Leeds Rhinos 0-6 St HelensWigan Warriors 30-10 Huddersfield Giants
Saturday July 12
3pm: Leigh Leopards vs Hull KR6pm: Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves
Sunday July 13
3pm: Salford Crimson Devils vs Castleford Tigers
Watch each Tremendous League recreation this season reside on Sky Sports activities – together with two matches in every spherical completely reside, with the remaining 4 matches every week proven on Sky Sports activities+ through the crimson button.