Tristan Sailor scores St Helens’ fourth try against Huddersfield Giants
Betfred Super League
St Helens (24) 52
Tries: Percival (2), Feldt (2), Sailor (2), Dagnall, Lomax, Knowles, Goals: Feldt 8
Huddersfield (4) 4
Tries: Greenwood
Tristan Sailor spearheaded a dominant St Helens display, scoring twice and assisting on two more tries, as they overwhelmed Huddersfield Giants and ascended to third place in the Super League standings.
The exceptional performance from the 27-year-old Australian, now boasting 15 Super League tries this season, highlighted an eighth victory in nine games for St Helens.
The win serves as a resounding statement, suggesting that Paul Wellens’ revitalized team will pose a significant challenge to any opponent in the play-offs, should they maintain this form.
St Helens now trail second-placed Wigan by just two points with five regular-season games remaining, and the outcome at the Totally Wicked Stadium was never in doubt under the bright sunshine.
They established an early lead after a Sailor break set up Daryl Clark, who then assisted Mark Percival in the ninth minute.
However, a yellow card issued to Giants centre Taane Milne in the first half proved to be the turning point, opening the floodgates.
Milne was penalized for a shove and subsequent verbal exchange, and while he served his time on the bench, St Helens capitalized, extending their lead from 6-0 to 24-0 with tries from Kyle Feldt, Sailor – who expertly collected a high ball – and Owen Dagnall.
Huddersfield struggled to contain Sailor’s blistering pace throughout the match, and while Joe Greenwood broke through Jonny Lomax’s defense to put the Giants on the scoreboard seven minutes before halftime, St Helens returned after the interval with renewed vigor.
Sailor assisted Lomax in the opening minute of the second half, Morgan Knowles powered over the line from close range, and Percival added his second try in the 55th minute, extending St Helens’ lead to 42-4.
After Feldt scored again, Sailor capped off his stellar performance with a blistering 60-metre charge, rounding full-back George Flanagan to score under the posts, securing his second try and St Helens’ ninth.
Feldt converted the try, making it a near-perfect eight from nine attempts.
Adding to the positive news for St Helens was the return of Jack Welsby, who made a 30-minute appearance off the bench, as well as the comeback of long-term injury absentees Joe Batchelor and James Bell.
Welsby suffered a serious knee injury in early June, undergoing surgery that was expected to sideline him for 16 weeks, jeopardizing his entire season and potentially his participation in the Ashes series against Australia this autumn.
He defied the initial prognosis, returning in just 10 weeks, further reinforcing the sense that things are falling into place for St Helens as they approach the crucial stage of the season.
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside:
“We scored a few nice tries but probably left a few points out there as well, not nailing a couple of breaks which in bigger games moving forward [we have to].
“We’ve got to nail that last pass because when you get to play-off time your are not going to get 15 opportunities a game, you might get two or three and that’s the reason we’ve got to improve.
“From two to eight [in the table] it is quite congested, so you are looking up, your looking back and to the sides. There are a lot of variables and it makes for a really exciting end to the season.
“I’m just delighted we have put ourselves back in a strong position.”
Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:
“They are one of the most physical packs and a very difficult proposition to go against. We didn’t win the physical battle, both with the ball and without it.”
On Taane Milne’s yellow card: “There were a lot of slowing down in the ruck and he was getting frustrated, but from a coach’s point of view he has hurt us more than the referee not giving the decision. I understood his frustration, but you can’t do it.
“When you are up against a Saints side who are red hot it was extremely difficult and we conceded try after try in that period and it really hurt us.”
St Helens: Sailor, Feldt, Robertson, Percival, Dagnall, Lomax, Mbye, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Batchelor, Whitley, Knowles
Interchanges: Welsby, Bell, Paasi, Delaney
Huddersfield: Flanagan, Halsall, Bibby, Milne, Gagai, Rush, Frawley, Rogers, Woolford, Powell, Greenwood, Rushton, Cudjoe
Interchanges: Golding, English, King, Wilson
Sin bin: Milne (18 mins)
Referee: Jack Smith.
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