St Helens 38 – 0 Wakefield

Two tries from Konrad Hurrell and one each from Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Lewis Dodd, Tommy Makinson and Jonny Lomax in his 300th appearance gave reigning Betfred Super League champions St Helens a resounding victory over Wakefield in trouble.

Wakefield Trinity’s slim hopes of summoning a Betfred Super League miracle fell flat at Totally Wicked Stadium as St Helens delivered a ruthless second-half performance to shape a 38-0 victory.

Arriving at the home of the world champions, useless after six games and amid a crippling injury crisis, Mark Applegarth’s men feared the worst when Mark Percival jumped in for the hosts’ opener just seven minutes away.

However, the inevitable onslaught was delayed, and had it not been for the escapes of Jai Whitbread and Mason Lino in the home 10, the visitors might even have headed into half-time with an unlikely lead before having to pay for those missed chances. with Will. Hopoate and Tommy Makinson also cross for the defending champions.

The Saints, who led 12-0 at the break, were more and more clinical as the minutes went by, with Lewis Dodd, Jonny Lomax and a searing brace from Konrad Hurrell after the break.

Yet the one-sided final scoreline couldn’t entirely conceal a sluggish first hour for the hosts, who also lost prop Alex Walmsley early on, and manager Paul Wellens will know they need to improve ahead of their Good Friday trip to a reborn Wigan.

Game history

Wakefield had defied bleak expectations in the first half, helped at times by the Saints’ lack of focus, as they remained within touching distance after Percival smashed through their static rear guard to open the scoring.

After Saints prop Matty Lees inexplicably opted to run straight into Jay Pitts with glaring options to his left, the momentum changed and Wakefield moved forward when the normally reliable Jack Welsby fumbled the punt. release of Morgan Smith.

Lewis Dodd throws the ball in for a try against Wakefield

Whitbread dug in inches from the line but Wakefield spat possession with a miss ball play, and moments later, given another chance, Pitts cleared down the right only for Lino to fumble his pass inside with the tryline at his mercy.

Inevitably, Wakefield was punished, first by Hopoate and then Makinson who crossed into opposite corners to extend the Saints’ lead to 12 points at half-time, with the visitors hanging on only by virtue of the trio of failed transformations of the latter.

The Saints continued to lack their usual snap after the interval, allowing Will Dagger to run free down their line before hitting the edge of their 10, but the visitors, despite their undoubted best efforts, were ill-equipped to make their spells of territorial possession indemnity.

Taking on spot-kick duties, Percival launched the Saints further past the posts after Wakefield swung wide from offside, and any hint of hope for the visitors was extinguished as half-time approached. way to the second period when Welsby broke through Wakefield’s line and dispatched Dodd with Percival. adding two more.

Jonny Lomax made his 300th appearance as St Helens beat Wakefield

Hurrell proved unstoppable as he broke in for his late brace while Lomax capitalized on a lucky ricochet to score in his 300th game.

what they said

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens

“In the first half in particular it was a very tough competition, we knew Wakefield would come here really desperate and they showed real heart and character, and I told the guys it could be a night where we we had to be patient.

“In many ways we did a good job in terms of mindset and patience, but on the other hand we coughed up a lot of the ball tonight and it didn’t help our cause.”

Wakefield Trinity head coach Mark Applegarth

“I thought the first half was pretty balanced, but it’s all about taking the chance. When you’re up against the world champions, you’re not going to get gifted opportunities time after time, so you have to be clinical and you have to take them.

“Even if we had gotten a win tonight, it would still have been a huge game for us (against Castleford Tigers) next week.”

And after?

Wakefield start Rivals Round by visiting nearby neighbors and other fighters Castleford Tigers Thursday, April 6 (8 p.m.). Saint Helena then make the trip to Wigan Warriors in the traditional Good Friday derby the next day (3 p.m.). Both games are live sky sports.