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Warrington Wolves 12 St Helens 48
by Gary Skentelbery picture George Thornton
WHEN star centre Martin Gleeson left Saint Helens to join arch-rivals Warrington many thought he would be a hard act to follow - up step Jamie Lyon.
When Lyon quit Saints to return to Australia many thought he would be an impossible act to follow - up step Matt Gidley!
A hat-trick from the Aussie centre, saw St Helens continue their domination over Warrington with a 48-12 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as the Wolves were outclassed in every department.
The Wolves were not helped by some questionable decisions, including Saints opening try - but in reality they could not compete with their illustrious neighbours who looked in a different league.
The treble from the former Australian Test centre helped take the World Club champions above their opponents in the table with a dazzling win, only tainted by the brilliance of Lee Briers, who sadly had to limp from the action in the final quarter.
The half-back, who first made his name with St Helens, scored once and set up another before going off with a hamstring injury, which will concern coach Paul Cullen, who also saw Chris Bridge pick up a groin strain.
The result leaves Wolves with just one win in 27 Super League derbies against Saints on a night when they could have gone top! Warrington were unlucky not to open the scoring when Martin Gleeson was held up just short of the line but was then adjudged to have made a double movement by the video ref.
But Saints soon started to take control and Long put a clever little kick into the in-goal area and the video ref deemed Gidley had enough downwards pressure on the ball to award the game's first try and Saints a 4-0 lead on 13 minutes.
Saints were getting over the advantage line with ease and it was no surprise when Ade Gardner ran over for his side's second try, although it came in controversial circumstances as Wolves called for a penalty because of a push by Kieron Cunningham on Briers at the play-the-ball.
Stand-off Leon Pryce showed no mercy though putting over a superb cross field up-and-under on 20 minutes for Nick Fozzard to pick up, pass to Gidley, who shipped the ball onto Gardner for a fine score to make it 10-0 following Long's conversion.
Warrington's agony was compounded when Gidley showed great skills to leave Paul Johnson and Stuart Reardon for dead with his sidesteps, to touch down for his second try to make it 16-0, with another Long conversion.
But to their credit Warrington hit back as Briers stepped into gear, running over after a quick penalty, although there was some debate over whether he had actually tapped the ball.
The half-back then converted the kick as the half drew to a close to make it 16-6, and with the minutes ticking away Briers again inspired his side.
His last-ditch kick towards the line was gathered assuredly by Henry Fa'aFili, who did the rest, and Briers' conversion gave Wolves a real chance heading into the dressing room at 16-12.
The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial and Francis Meli delivered the killer blow almost immediately, pinching one from dummy-half on the line to restore Saints comfort zone at 20-12.
Saints became unstoppable and Maurie Fa'asavalu could have scored soon after, but for a fine tackle from Reardon. But a quick pass from Cunningham gave Gidley the simplest of hat-trick chances to extend the lead to 24-12.
With Warrington fading fast Mike Bennett ran in for another converted try to make it 30-12. Two late tries from Pryce, one a breakaway covering the full length of the pitch, made it 42-12, as Long converted.
Then full-back Paul Wellens nipped in for a final final try to complete Wolves' misery.Picture shows Mike Sullivan attempting to breach the St Helens defence.
Wolves blitzed by
super Saints!
by Gary Skentelbery picture George Thornton
WHEN star centre Martin Gleeson left Saint Helens to join arch-rivals Warrington many thought he would be a hard act to follow - up step Jamie Lyon.
When Lyon quit Saints to return to Australia many thought he would be an impossible act to follow - up step Matt Gidley!
A hat-trick from the Aussie centre, saw St Helens continue their domination over Warrington with a 48-12 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as the Wolves were outclassed in every department.
The Wolves were not helped by some questionable decisions, including Saints opening try - but in reality they could not compete with their illustrious neighbours who looked in a different league.
The treble from the former Australian Test centre helped take the World Club champions above their opponents in the table with a dazzling win, only tainted by the brilliance of Lee Briers, who sadly had to limp from the action in the final quarter.
The half-back, who first made his name with St Helens, scored once and set up another before going off with a hamstring injury, which will concern coach Paul Cullen, who also saw Chris Bridge pick up a groin strain.
The result leaves Wolves with just one win in 27 Super League derbies against Saints on a night when they could have gone top! Warrington were unlucky not to open the scoring when Martin Gleeson was held up just short of the line but was then adjudged to have made a double movement by the video ref.
But Saints soon started to take control and Long put a clever little kick into the in-goal area and the video ref deemed Gidley had enough downwards pressure on the ball to award the game's first try and Saints a 4-0 lead on 13 minutes.
Saints were getting over the advantage line with ease and it was no surprise when Ade Gardner ran over for his side's second try, although it came in controversial circumstances as Wolves called for a penalty because of a push by Kieron Cunningham on Briers at the play-the-ball.
Stand-off Leon Pryce showed no mercy though putting over a superb cross field up-and-under on 20 minutes for Nick Fozzard to pick up, pass to Gidley, who shipped the ball onto Gardner for a fine score to make it 10-0 following Long's conversion.
Warrington's agony was compounded when Gidley showed great skills to leave Paul Johnson and Stuart Reardon for dead with his sidesteps, to touch down for his second try to make it 16-0, with another Long conversion.
But to their credit Warrington hit back as Briers stepped into gear, running over after a quick penalty, although there was some debate over whether he had actually tapped the ball.
The half-back then converted the kick as the half drew to a close to make it 16-6, and with the minutes ticking away Briers again inspired his side.
His last-ditch kick towards the line was gathered assuredly by Henry Fa'aFili, who did the rest, and Briers' conversion gave Wolves a real chance heading into the dressing room at 16-12.
The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial and Francis Meli delivered the killer blow almost immediately, pinching one from dummy-half on the line to restore Saints comfort zone at 20-12.
Saints became unstoppable and Maurie Fa'asavalu could have scored soon after, but for a fine tackle from Reardon. But a quick pass from Cunningham gave Gidley the simplest of hat-trick chances to extend the lead to 24-12.
With Warrington fading fast Mike Bennett ran in for another converted try to make it 30-12. Two late tries from Pryce, one a breakaway covering the full length of the pitch, made it 42-12, as Long converted.
Then full-back Paul Wellens nipped in for a final final try to complete Wolves' misery.
Warrington (12) 12.
Tries: Briers, Fa'afili. Goals: Briers 2.
St Helens (16) 48.
Tries: Gidley 3, Gardner, Meli, Bennett, Pryce 2, Wellens. Goals: Long 6.
Att: 13,024
