Match Report – Warrington 10 – 12 St Helens

First-half converted tries from Alex Walmsley and Tommy Makinson proved enough to give Saints victory over Warrington; Gareth Widdop and George Williams tries, plus one conversion from Stefan Ratchford, accounted for Warrington’s tally

Tommy Makinson scored a try to help St Helens to victory on his 250th Super League appearance

Tommy Makinson was able to celebrate a victory on his 250th Betfred Super League appearance as an out-of-sort St Helens held out for a 12-10 victory over Warrington Wolves.

Alex Walmsley’s try in bizarre circumstances and Makinson’s 14th of the season helped St Helens, despite not being at their best in attack, into a 12-4 lead at the break after Gareth Widdop’s opener for the hosts.

George Williams’ converted try gave the Wolves hope of snatching a memorable win, but they could not unlock the reigning champions’ defence again – with the impressive Connor Wrench left to wonder what might have been as he was somehow caught while breaking away in the closing stages.

Story of the game

Warrington head coach Daryl Powell will in particular be delighted with his decision to switch a fit-again Widdop to full-back in place of the injured Josh Thewlis, with Stefan Ratchford continuing at stand-off.

It looked like a gamble but Widdop was rock-solid as a last line of defence and made his mark on attack, creating a try for Williams along with crossing himself.

The game saw Saints captain James Roby make the 550th appearance of his career and move into second place in the Super League appearances record behind Kevin Sinfield on 453.

Peter Mata’utia, facing younger brother Sione in the Saints three-quarter line, drew first blood in the family duel when his precision pass enabled winger Wrench to scoot down the wing and Widdop was in support to score the game’s opening try.

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St Helens’ Alex Walmsley pounced to level the score against Warrington

As has become their recent trait, Saints were slow starters and produced all sorts of errors in the opening quarter but it was not long before they began to show their true mettle.

The build-up to their first try was something of comedy of errors, as Warrington lost control of a scrum on their own 10-metre line in the face of a Saints push and prop Walmsley was able to dribble the ball forward before picking up to touch down, with Makinson converting.

Saints struck again just before half-time when the Wolves failed to deal with Jonny Lomax’s high kick. The loose ball was fed back to Roby and Agnatius Paasi, Lomax and Konrad Hurrell all combined to work Makinson over at the corner, from where he was able to kick the conversion to establish an eight-point cushion.

The champions were now in the ascendancy, and they went close to extending their lead early in the second half when player of the match Jack Welsby sliced clean through the first line of defence only to be hauled down short of the tryline by Wrench.

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George Williams scored an amazing try to bring Warrington closer to equalizing against St Helens.

Warrington’s pacey left winger Matty Ashton then got back in similar fashion to halt Hurrell, who had looked to be a certain tryscorer after pulling off an interception on halfway and Roby then stretched out of a tackle to plant the ball on the line only to find a defender’s boot instead.

Warrington’s gutsy defence began to pay off when Mata’utia gave Widdop the opportunity to counter-attack after collecting Welsby’s high kick and Williams was in support to finish off with a thrilling try.

Ratchford’s conversion cut the deficit to just two points and, as the action swung from end to end, Saints were indebted to Lomax for a crucial tackle on Ashton in full flight while Wrench also went close with a break from deep a minute from the end.

What’s next?

Both teams have a week off for the Betfred Challenge Cup final, but Warrington return to action on Friday, June 3 at home to Leeds Rhinos live on Sky Sports. St Helens, meanwhile, travel to Toulouse Olympique the following day.