Saints » Results

Saints notched up their twelfth straight win with a relatively straightforward victory over Huddersfield Giants.

The Giants’ ill-discipline coupled with Saints’ dynamic and often devastating attacking play were simply too good for Paul Anderson’s side.

Led superbly by Fa’asavalu and an excellent showing from Keiron Cunningham, Saints were 28-6 to the good at the break.

They then powered on to a comprehensive 46-14 victory thanks to some wonderful tries from Sean Long, James Roby and a double from Willie Talau.

Six of the seven Saints involved in England’s thrashing of France were in the named 17 – Leon Pryce missing out through injury.

Kyle Eastmond started at six, with Paul Clough replacing Jon Wilkin in the second row. Saints number 12 placed on the bench.

For Huddersfield, Luke Robinson returned to the scrum half role and former Saints Keith Mason and Stuart Jones were named in the pack.

Saints were immediately on the attack after Huddersfield were penalised for lying on. Following a strong run by Eastmond, Long dabbed through but his kick was just a shade too strong.

A few minutes later, Matt Gidley worked a gap for himself, but his flip pass found its way into Luke Robinson’s hands following Whaturia’s knocked forward intercept. From the scrum, Saints worked left, but failed to make the pressure pay.

On 15 minutes, a cute chip from Robinson was knocked dead by Gardner under pressure from Michael Lawrence. But Saints’ defence held firm – Francis Meli taking a towering kick in goal to diffuse any danger.

And after soaking up the pressure, Saints worked their way down the field and a typical storming run by Keiron Cunningham resulted in his 159^th score for the Club – unstoppable with the line in his sights. Long with the conversion.

Huddersfield were tackling hard but beginning to cause a severe ink shortage in the penalties against column too; giving Saints prime field position. And it was no surprise when a long cut out pass saw Meli going in the corner to stretch the lead further. Long was a shade short with the extras.

Almost immediately, with Saints on the attack once more, Hemmingway picked up a loose pass in the centre of the field and raced away to score. The stand-off converting his own try with ease.

But once again, Huddersfield’s ill-discipline cost them.

Rob Jensen was sent to the bin for a late hit on Sean Long after he had kicked through and from the tap, Fa’asavalu stormed onto the ball, took at least six on and found a way over. Long converting once more.

And Saints finished the half well on top with a nice score from Ade Gardner who took a Matt Gidley ball to power over. Long again converting.

Maurie Fa’asavalu then notched up his second with a bullocking run which sent the Giants falling – especially Michael Lawrence who was brutally handed off as the big Samoan touched down. Long making it six.

Half Time: Saints 28 Huddersfield 6.

Saints began the second half on the attack thanks to another Huddersfield indiscretion. And again the home side made the Giants pay when Kyle Eastmond linked with Long for the latter to chip through for Talau to go over.

Long missing a relatively easy conversion – but making up for it seconds later when he showed great space to scamper over from close range.

Eastmond short with the extras this time around.

Saints’ next try was out of the top drawer. The ball was kept alive after a superb charging run from Cunningham, into Scully’s hands who opened up a gap on the left hand side of the field. From there, Talau was left in acres of space – cutting back inside to send Roby the opposite way into the corner. Sculthorpe with the conversation.

Talau added another four pointer before Danny Kirmond touched down following a chip through from Ryan Hudson. The referee giving the benefit of the doubt to the young substitute despite him seemingly touching down a fraction of a second after Matt Gidley. Hemmingway wide with the conversion.

Seconds later, Ade Gardner made a wonderful try saving tackle on David Hodgson who looked certain to score – the winger making up several yards to firstly cut out an overlap and then tackle the Giants’ full-back.

Stuart Jones added a consolation late on - Hemmingway converting - but it was always going to be Saints’ day and it could have been so much better – Ade Gardner being called for a knock on after going 70 yards.

Giants' Assistant Coach, Kieron Purtill, said: "If you give a team like Saints easy possession, they will punish you. We needed to be a lot smarter espeically with the referee in that sort of mood. I thought we didn't give up."

Daniel Anderson, Saints Head Coach, added: "I thought for 60 minutes we looked really sharp and only began to show some fatigue in the last quarter. I was very grateful we could play with most of the England boys.

"We were in the position to rest Leon, but are short on forwards so those boys had to play. I thought Kyle did well at 6 - especially in his defence - but he needed to do a little bit more at 7.

"Of course Maurie played well too. He is a beast and is enjoying his rugby so much at the moment."

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Cunningham, Meli, Fa’asavalu (2), Gardner, Talau (2), Long, Roby

Goals: Long (4 from 6), Eastmond (0 from 1), Sculthorpe (1 from 2)

Huddersfield:

Tries: Hemmingway, Kirmond, Jones

Goals: Hemmingway (2 from 3)

Penalties:

Saints: 17

Huddersfield: 4

HT (Sts First): 28-6

FT (Sts First): 46-16

REF: Ashley Klein

ATT: 8597

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 24. Kyle Eastmond, 7. Sean Long; 17. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 11. Lee Gilmour, 21. Paul Clough, 13. Paul Sculthorpe.

Subs: 12. Jon Wilkin, 14. James Roby, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 29. Sam Thompson.

Huddersfield:

5. David Hodgson; 2. Martin Aspinwall, 13. Stephen Wild, 4. Paul Whatuira, 22. Michael Lawrence; 20. Tom Hemingway, 7. Luke Robinson; 16. Keith Mason, 19. Ryan Hudson, 18. Darrell Griffin, 14. Stuart Jones, 11. Jamahl Lolesi, 12. Andy Raleigh.

Subs: 8. Eorl Crabtree, 17. Steve Snitch, 24. Rod Jensen, 28 Danny Kirmond.