| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| St Helens (16) 32 |
| Tries: Coote 3, Makinson 2, Bentley Goals: Coote 4 |
| Salford (18) 30 |
| Tries: Evalds 2, Dudson, Olpherts, Lui Goals: Inu 5 |
Leaders St Helens produced a stunning late salvage job to beat Salford in an entertaining Super League contest.
Losing 16-0 on 12 minutes after Lachlan Coote (twice) and Tommy Makinson crossed, Salford led by the break with converted tries from Gil Dudson, Niall Evalds and Derrell Olpherts.
Evalds again and Rob Lui then scored for a 30-16 Salford lead, but Saints hit back to score three times.
Coote and Makinson scored again before James Bentley’s late try was allowed.
It looked as if the youngster may have lost control crossing the line in the dying seconds but the video referee gave it and Coote kicked the goal, to send Saints six points clear at the top.
It was yet more heartbreak for Salford, who were also 24-8 up with seven minutes left on this ground two seasons ago and still lost in equally dramatic circumstances to a Matty Smith drop-goal after the hooter.
On a night when they could have gone third, the Red Devils were instead left to contemplate their latest failure to win an away game against St Helens for a first time since 1980.
Coote scored twice in three minutes as Justin Holbrook’s side made a perfect start, his first following a great 50-metre break from Welsh winger Regan Grace, in which he outstripped four opponents.
Theo Fages’ well-timed pass then set up Coote for his own converted second try before also creating Makinson’s try in the corner with a delayed pass.
But former Wigan prop Gil Dudson barged over for a try, for the first of five conversions by Krisnan Inu, who also created full-back Evalds’ 80-metre dash to the posts for the second try.
Salford then snatched the lead by the break when Lui’s kick to the corner was patted infield by Inu and Olpherts produced a determined finish from close range.
Lui’s break and strength created the space for Evalds’ second touchdown before taking centre stage himself on the hour mark, with a superb solo try from 15 metres out.
But it is never advisable to write off Saints – and back they came to score three times in the final 15 minutes.
Coote completed his hat-trick before Makinson brushed aside a weak dual challenge before accelerating to the right corner.
Coote’s left-footed touchline conversion crucially cut the deficit to just four points – and, when Bentley’s try was allowed to stand, Saints had completed yet another of their amazing comeback victories.
St Helens: Coote; Swift, Makinson, Costello, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Lees, Smith, Walmsley, Peyroux, Z Taia, Knowles.
Interchanges: Paulo, Amor, Ashworth, Bentley.
Salford: Evalds; Olpherts, Inu, Welham, Sio; Lui, Hastings; Mossop, Lussick, Dudson, Jones, Griffin, Burke.
Interchanges: Walker, McCarthy, Murray, Pauli.
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (RFL).
