 Paul Wellens dives in to score Saints' opening try |
St Helens (16) 34
Tries: Wellens, Lyon, Gilmour, Gardner 2, Pryce
Cons: Lyon 4, Hooper
Wakefield: (6) 12
Tries: Demetriou, Watene
Goals Rooney 2
St Helens all but secured top spot in the Super League after a hard-fought win over relegation battlers Wakefield.
The Challenge Cup winners met fierce resistance but eventually triumphed with second-half tries from Ade Gardner - who grabbed two - and Leon Pryce.
Wakefield took an early lead via Jason Demetriou's try but scores from Paul Wellens, Jamie Lyon and Lee Gilmour put Saints 16-6 ahead at half-time.
Adam Watene's try made it 16-12 before Saints reasserted their authority.
With just two games remaining they are now effectively guaranteed the most favourable route to the Grand Final.
Only a mathematical miracle from second-placed Hull can prevent them claiming the Super League leaders' shield.
Saints are six points clear, with Hull playing Catalans on Sunday, but their points differential is currently more than 300 better than their closest rivals.
The only downside was a further recurrence of injury trouble for captain
Paul Sculthorpe.
The Great Britain skipper has been plagued by knee problems over the past year and was withdrawn during the second half.
"It is just a concern every now and again," said coach Daniel Anderson.
"He has good days and bad days - more good days - but this was not a good day. He didn't feel any power in it."
Trinity, meanwhile, remain in the relegation spot, a point adrift of Castleford, who play Harlequins on Saturday.
St Helens coach Daniel Anderson:
"We have stepped up week in, week out. We have been consistent
throughout the year and thoroughly deserve the position we are in. "We have really set a standard for ourselves, defensively especially.
"It has been very emotional this week. (The Challenge Cup win) takes it out of you but once we got the juices going we were competitive and I felt comfortable."
Wakefield coach John Kear:
"I am really happy with some of our creative play but half-chances are not good enough against St Helens. "For the first 25 minutes or more it was a great contest and I am convinced
that performance would have beaten other teams.
"It is going down to the wire now."
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Lyon, Gilmour, Meli, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, P Anderson, Sculthorpe, V. Anderson, Hooper.
Replacements: Roby, Graham, Fa'asavalu, Bennett.
Wakefield: Halpenny, Demetriou, Evans, Atkins, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Korkidas, Obst, Watene, Henderson, Solomona, Betham.
Replacements: M. Field, Elima, Latu, March.
Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington)
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