Wakefield Trinity 66 Hemel Stags: Part-timers Stags impress Trinity coach Agar

Lee Smith chalked up 26 points as the Super League side – five time winners of the competition – eased into round five of this year’s Cup.

However, Agar, who made a host of changes to his halves and back line, was left impressed by their opponents.

“I was disappointed with our overall performance but I’d like to really compliment the opposition as I felt they had a right crack,” he said. “They gave everything they had got and their centres defended outstandingly at times, while the halfbacks tried really hard to create.

“It’s all credit to their coach (Troy Perkins) as I thought they covered themselves in a lot of glory – their effort was outstanding.

“They didn’t miss too many tackles throughout the course of the game and perhaps that’s why they were out on their feet at the end. We’re in the next round and sometimes you are on a bit of a hiding to nothing in these games so I’ve told them (Wakefield players) not to kick themselves.”

The Stags, only recently elevated to Championship One and with another game in the Northern Rail Cup against Crusaders tomorrow, started brightly and held out for almost nine minutes before Jon Molloy, who had not played for eight months due to a knee reconstruction, scored to open Wakefield’s account.

Lee Smith kicked his first of nine conversions from as many attempts and three further Trinity tries ensued before half time.

But in between Aaron Smalls gave the coachload of Hertfordshire supporters something to cheer as he claimed a spectacular interception try, running in from 60 metres out, with Mike Bishay tagging on the goal.

Smith finished with two tries plus nine goals, there were also braces for Molloy and Liam Kay, with Matty Wildie, Justin Poore, Frankie Mariano, Kyle Trout and Ben Shulver adding the other five touchdowns, while Kyle Wood and Wildie slotted over the final two conversions.

Wakefield: Lyne, Kay, Cowling, Mellars, Walshaw, L. Smith, Wood, Poore, Wildie, Raleigh, Mariano, Molloy, Trout. Substitutes: Amor, Wilkes, Shulver, Maskill.

Hemel Stags: Forgham, Johnson, Caton-Brown, Small, Rochester-Bremmer, Sharp, Bishay, Howitt, Miranda, Pritchard, McLeod, Ingerfield, Molloy. Substitutes: Ljizouli, Swindells, Hobbs, Mbaraga.

Referee: P Brooke (RFL).