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St Helens book Grand Final place and end Catalan Dragons’ fairytale St Helens book Grand Final place and end Catalan Dragons’ fairytale
(35 minutes later)
St Helens ensured there was no happy ending to Super League’s French fairytale with a convincing five-try win to secure their first Grand Final appearance for four years at Old Trafford a week on Saturday. St Helens ensured there was no happy ending to Super League’s French fairytale with a convincing five-try win to secure their first Grand Final appearance for three years at Old Trafford next Saturday.
They had to come from behind, but there was no doubt about the outcome after tries either side of half-time by Adam Swift and Willie Manu had earned an 18-6 lead, as the Catalans finally ran out of steam after playing sudden-death rugby throughout the play-off series. They had to come from behind but there was no doubt about the outcome after tries either side of half-time by Adam Swift and Willie Manu had earned an 18-6 lead, as the Catalans ran out of steam after playing sudden-death rugby throughout the play-off series.
In contrast Saints, who had two weeks’ rest before this game, will have an extra 24 hours to prepare for a derby against the winners of Fridaytonight’s second semi between Wigan and Warrington, their reward for finishing top of the table which was itself a fine achievement given the loss of several key players to injury. In contrast Saints will have an extra 24 hours to prepare for a derby against the winners of Friday’s second semi-final between Wigan and Warrington, their reward for finishing top of the table which was itself a fine achievement given the loss of several key players to injury.
The continued absence of Jonny Lomax, Jon Wilkin and Luke Walsh means that many St Helens supporters will realistically make the short trip to Manchester next weekend in hope rather than expectation of seeing their team end a depressing run of five consecutive Grand Final defeats since they were last crowned Super League champions back in 2006. The continued absence of Jonny Lomax, Jon Wilkin and Luke Walsh means many St Helens supporters will realistically make the short trip to Manchester next weekend in hope rather than expectation of seeing their team end a depressing run of five consecutive Grand Final defeats since they were last crowned Super League champions in 2006.
But whatever happens at Old Trafford, this season has been a major step in the right direction, both for the Saints and the Catalans, who have already made several significant signings for 2015 in the hope of ensuring that their 10th season does not end in another anticlimax.But whatever happens at Old Trafford, this season has been a major step in the right direction, both for the Saints and the Catalans, who have already made several significant signings for 2015 in the hope of ensuring that their 10th season does not end in another anticlimax.
St Helens always recognised that choosing the dangerous Dragons as semi-final opponents through their Club Call option had the potential to blow up in their faces, and the early signs were ominous for them as the visitors kept the ball alive and were comfortably the more enterprising side. “It seems like the good old days, doesn’t it?” said the club great Keiron Cunningham, an assistant coach. “I’m proud as punch of what we’ve done this season, whatever happens next week.”
There was confirmation that Saints were worried when they took the rare option, against the devil-may-care instincts which their supporters prefer, of going for goal from a penalty rather than taking a quick tap. Mark Percival missed it anyway, and instead the Catalans took a deserved lead with some razzle-dazzle handling in the St Helens mould, as first Elliott Whitehead, then Thomas Bosc released passes around their backs for Morgan Escare to score. Bosc’s was undoubtedly forward, but sometimes you make your own luck. Saints always recognised choosing the dangerous Dragons as semi-final opponents through their Club Call option had the potential to blow up in their faces, and the early signs were ominous as the visitors kept the ball alive and were comfortably the more enterprising side.
Saints were soon level anyway as a strong run by the young forward Luke Thompson set the example for Jordan Turner to take the direct route to the line. But the try with which they nudged ahead late in the first half was a thriller, as a slick handling move set Adam Swift gliding down the wing, and he beat Escare before grounding the ball in Michael Oldfield’s cover tackle. They took a deserved lead with some razzle-dazzle handling as first Elliott Whitehead, then Thomas Bosc released passes around their backs for Morgan Escare to score. Bosc’s was undoubtedly forward but sometimes you make your own luck – and by the end of the match the Catalans were convinced it had more than evened out.
Percival curled over an excellent conversion from near the touchline, and Saints added the all-important first try of the second half in an unusually prompt example of bad decision balancing themselves out. The centre clearly nudged the ball forward into the arms of Tommy Makinson down the right, but none of the three officials saw it, and perhaps most surprising of all the video officials did not urge the referee, Richard Silverwood, to refer the decision to them, instead allowing him to award a try to Willie Manu, who had supported Makinson on the inside. Percival added a straightforward conversion, and an equally simple penalty extended the Saints lead to 20-6 after 55 minutes. Saints were soon level anyway as a strong run by the young forward Luke Thompson set the example for Jordan Turner to take the direct route to the line. Then a slick handling move set Swift gliding down the wing for a fine try that Mark Percival converted for a 12-6 half-time lead.
Saints enjoyed the benefit of a refereeing howler, as none of the five officials – three on the field and two in the video box – spotted a clear knock-on by Percival which allowed Tommy Makinson to send Willie Manu over for a try on his last home appearance, with Mose Masoe and Percival adding further scores against some weary defence. “There’s a lot of controversial points but I will not spend time and energy on what I cannot control,” said the Dragons coach, Laurent Frayssinous.
He is confident Todd Carney, the bad boy of Australian rugby league, will be cleared by England’s Rugby Football League to join the club next season but admitted he will miss David Waite, the veteran coach who heads home this weekend after two years lending his experience to Super League’s French project. “He was there for our first game in 2006, and he can see how far we have come to 2014,” Frayssinous said. “So it is a great thank you to Mr Waite.”
St Helens Wellens; Makinson, Percival, Jones, Swift; Hohaia, Flanagan; Amor, Roby, Masoe, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Turner. Interchange Soliola, Manu, Walmsley, Richards.St Helens Wellens; Makinson, Percival, Jones, Swift; Hohaia, Flanagan; Amor, Roby, Masoe, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Turner. Interchange Soliola, Manu, Walmsley, Richards.
Catalan Dragons Escare; Oldfield, Pomeroy, Duport, Millard; Bosc, Williams; Elima, Henderson, Anderson, Taia, Whitehead, Mounis. Interchange Lima, Pelissier, Bousquet, Garcia.Catalan Dragons Escare; Oldfield, Pomeroy, Duport, Millard; Bosc, Williams; Elima, Henderson, Anderson, Taia, Whitehead, Mounis. Interchange Lima, Pelissier, Bousquet, Garcia.
Referee R Silverwood.Referee R Silverwood.