St Helens 32 Wakefield 12: Hall grabs farewell try but Trinity's losing run drags on

St Helens sent Wakefield plunging to their ninth successive defeat as they warmed up for the Super League semi-finals in mixed fashion.
Wakefield's Tom Johnstone.Wakefield's Tom Johnstone.
Wakefield's Tom Johnstone.

A second-half hat-trick from Shannon McDonnell sealed the win for Saints who finish fourth in Super League.

Saints led 12-6 at the break after taking the lead with a converted try from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wakefield replied with a Craig Hall touchdown before Jack Owens crossed in the corner for the hosts. McDonnell’s hat-trick dashed the Wildcats’ hopes of ending their season with a shock win before Theo Fages added a late St Helens try.

Luke Walsh booted four goals but Saints will need an improved show to reach Old Trafford in a fortnight.

It was an emotional night for Hall who lined up for his farewell appearance – the 200th match of his career – for Wakefield before joining the Toronto Wolfhounds.

Wakefield were forced into a late change with Ben Harrison dropping out and Anthony Tupou promoted from the bench.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Wildcats briefly lost Mikey Sio for a concussion assessment after only two minutes but were the first to impress with a darting run from Hall before he was barged into touch. Saints finally broke the deadlock when Kyle Amor sent McCarthy-Scarsbrook barging over after Atelea Vea was held short. Walsh tagged on the conversion.

Back-to-back penalties enabled Wakefield to pressure Saints with Hall strolling over but Liam Finn missed the kick.

It was a poor show by Saints with unforced errors frustrating their fans. But they did string enough passes together just before the break with Walsh and Jon Wilkin involved before Owens took a long ball from Jonny Lomax to go over in the corner and Walsh converted.

Finn struck a penalty for Wakefield on the stroke of half-time to cut the gap to 12-6 before Joe Greenwood went over early in the second half from a Lomax pass but the effort was disallowed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Joe Arundel lost his footing to be rounded by McDonnell who sped away to score in the corner. Walsh added the touchline conversion to stretch the lead to 18-6.

Jordan Turner saved a try with a tackle on Jon Molloy as Wakefield strove to get back into the contest. A missed tackle by Dominique Peyroux on Sio allowed Hall to chip ahead for Johnstone to touch down with Finn’s conversion making it 18-12.

Wakefield’s enthusiasm never waned with Joe Greenwood pushed into touch by a clutch of defenders.

Saints did manage a third try with Turner slipping Reece Lyne’s tackle for McDonnell to go over again to stretch the lead to 22-12.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McDonnell completed his treble 10 minutes from time again courtesy of Turner.

Fages danced over for a solo effort three minutes from time.

St Helens: Lomax, McDonnell, Percival, Peyroux, Owens, Turner, Walsh, Vea, Knowles, Amor, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood, Thompson. Substitutes: Walmsley, Wilkin, Fages, Davies.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Johnstone, Lyne, Arundel, B. Tupou, Hall, Finn, Simon, Sio, Fifita, Molloy, Ashurst, Harrison. Substitutes: A. Tupou, Arona, Crowther, Yates.

Referee: J Cobb (RFL).