Lyon sets scene for Saints' exhibition
St Helens 64 - Wakefield 16
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Your support makes all the difference.Saints went back into second place in Super League with a scintillating display of attacking rugby that showed why only Leeds have been able to stop them so far this season.
Saints went back into second place in Super League with a scintillating display of attacking rugby that showed why only Leeds have been able to stop them so far this season.
Powered forward by Kieron Cunningham and illuminated by dazzling handling from just about everyone, Saints were in one of those moods where any side would have struggled to contain them.
Both St Helens centres caused Wakefield early problems, but a couple of glorious back-handed passes from Jamie Lyon threatened to send Darren Albert clear.
It was on the other side of the field that Saints did the real damage, Willie Talau scooping up the loose ball after Julian O'Neill had put down Jamie Rooney's pass and racing 70 metres for the opening try.
Wakefield responded well, equalising with a move that saw the ball go through eight pairs of hands in a way that would have done justice to Saints before Jason Demetriou's pass put Steve Snitch over. Saints almost regained the lead immediately, but Lyon lost the ball diving over the line. Sean Long was also held up in-goal after a forward pass went undetected.
Saints retook the lead with one of their exhilarating bouts of keeping the ball alive when it would have been easier to die with it. Ade Gardner began the attack with a cross-field run and took Long's inside pass with the referee Karl Kirkpatrick the only body between him and the tryline.
Their next try, two minutes later, was simplicity itself, Talau backing up for his second after Long sent Lee Gilmour through. Saints just looked too physically strong in the collisions, and Cunningham resisting a two-man tackle to send in James Roby was a case in point.
Wakefield still looked dangerous with ball in hand and they hit back before half-time, moving the ball across the full width for Andy Kirk to score in the corner and Rooney converting from the touchline.
Kevin King was denied a third Wakefield try when he was held up over the line, and Saints reasserted their authority early in the second half when Lyon finally managed to send Albert over.
When Colum Halpenny dropped Long's high kick, Saints cashed in again when Cunningham stood in the tackle to feed Mark Edmondson.
Albert's second came from another surge by Cunningham and a spectacular Vinnie Anderson pass as Saints began to make it an exhibition. More magical handling saw a final pass from Lyon give Roby his second try. Lyon was by now kicking the goals as well, including a penalty for David Solomona's foul on Roby in the act of scoring - a rare ruling, but correct.
Cunningham went over from close range to underline his impact on the game as Saints went past a half-century. Halpenny got one back for the shell-shocked Wildcats, but Saints were irresistible and ended with Anderson's first try for his new club and Cunningham's second of the night.
It had been a consummate performance from the Test hooker, but he had been surrounded by players at the top of their form and Wakefield had no answer to that level of all-round excellence.
St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Lyon, Talau, Gardner, Roby, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, P Anderson, Gilmour, V Anderson, Sculthorpe. Substitutes: Edmondson, Bennett, Mason, Graham.
Wakefield: Halpenny, Kirk, Demetriou, King, Tadulala, Rooney, Obst, Griffin, March, Snitch, Solomona, J Field, O'Neill. Substitutes: Korkidas, Wrench, M Field, Feather.
Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).
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