ST HELENS are just 80 minutes away from a sixth successive Grand Final after outplaying defending champions Wigan in yesterday’s play-off tie at the DW Stadium.
Captain Paul Wellens scored two of his side’s four tries as they claimed their first win in five meetings with the Warriors since their defeat at Old Trafford last October. The result also gave Royce Simmons his first derby success.
Like leaders Warrington, who were 47-0 winners over Huddersfield on Friday, Saints will now have next weekend off while Wigan will be back in action at the DW Stadium next Sunday in the second preliminary semi-final.
St Helens coach Royce Simmons paid tribute to his young half-backs Lee Gaskell and Jonny Lomax as he savoured a first derby triumph.
“Although we hadn’t beaten them we could have had at least two wins so we came here pretty confident we could do a job,” he said.
“Our combinations are starting to get a bit of a roll. The young halves were really good. They played really square on and went to the line and I thought they kicked well.”
Saints had Tony Puletua, Francis Meli, Sia Soliola and Jamie Foster back for the game but were still without Chris Flannery and Leon Pryce and Simmons is hoping a week off will enable him to get more of his troops back.
“We had eight players sitting on the sideline and four of them probably won’t get back but there are two or three that we’ll be trying to squeeze back in,” he said. “The week off certainly helps.”
SUMMARIES: YESTERDAY: engage Super League Qualifying Play-off: Leeds (18) 42. Tries: Jones-Buchanan, Jones-Bishop, Webb, Hauraki, Sinfield, McGuire, Bailey. Goals: Sinfield 7. Hull (0) 10. Tries: Whiting, T. Briscoe. Goals: Tickle. Att: 9,075. Super League Qualifying Play-off: Wigan (6) 18. Tries: Richards, O’Loughlin, J. Tomkins. Goals: Richards 3. St Helens (14) 26. Tries: Wellens 2, Lomax, McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Goals: Foster 5. Att: 12,893.
FRIDAY: engage Super League Qualifying Play-off: Warrington (25) 47. Tries: Riley 2, Bridge, J. Monaghan 2, King, Hodgson, Myler, Atkins. Goals: Bridge 2, Briers 3. Drop Goals: Briers. Huddersfield (0) 0. Att: 10,006
WIDNES Vikings have announced they are releasing a further three members of their 2011 first team squad.
Having made his debut for the club in 2009, Anthony Thackeray went on to become a crowd favourite at the Stobart Stadium Halton, pulling on a Widnes shirt on 70 occasions, securing 48 tries and adding 1 conversion in the process.
Steve Tyrer began his third stint at the club in 2011 having had two previous loan periods, the first of which came in 2008.
Completing the trio of released players is James Coyle.
In his first spell at the Vikings in 2006, James made 31 appearances and scored 5 tries.
