St Helens 28-6 Leigh: Match report and reaction

Match stats: St Helens 28-6 Leigh

St Helens tries: Percival (20), Fages (27), Morgan (50), Grace (64), Walmsley (70)
Conversions/Penalties: Percival (20, 27, 50, 70)

Leigh tries: Acton (8)
Conversions: Reynolds (8) 

Match report

St Helens picked up their fifth Betfred Super League win of the season with a convincing 28-6 victory over a Leigh side who have now lost their last seven games in all competitions.

Mark Percival scored a try and kicked four goals as Saints gained revenge for a 24-16 defeat in the reverse fixture in February.

There was little to choose between the sides at half-time after Saints had fought back from 6-0 down to lead 12-6. But it was a different story after the break as Leigh, who have not won in St Helens since 1982, were swept aside.

Click here for updated Super League fixtures, results & standings  

Neil Jukes' side made a bright start and took an eighth-minute lead when Jamie Acton charged over from close range, Ben Reynolds adding the conversion.

But St Helens levelled the scores after 20 minutes. Some quick passing along the left gave centre Percival the opportunity to dive over for a try which he also goaled.

Six minutes later, Saints were rewarded for some adventurous attacking play when the ball was kept alive - stand-off Theo Fages cutting infield to score. Percival brilliantly added the conversion from the touchline to make it 12-6.

Saints, who are still under the caretaker charge of Sean Long, Jamahl Lolesi and Derek Traynor following the departure of Kieron Cunningham, extended their lead 11 minutes into the second half when centre Ryan Morgan was set up for a try which Percival again converted.

Moments earlier, Adam Swift had been tackled onto his back by Leigh's Ryan Hampshire after a 50-metre break from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook after he picked up a wayward pass.

Further tries followed in the final quarter. Winger Regan Grace got in at the corner after taking a pass from Fages though Percival was unable to add the conversion.

Saints prop Alex Walmsley capped his 150th career appearance with a try 10 minutes from the end, charging onto a short pass and proving unstoppable from close range. Percival added the conversion for a 28-6 lead.

Both sides ended the game with 12 men as Saints' Adam Walker and Eloi Pelissier of Leigh were sin-binned for fighting.

Match reaction

Caretaker coach Derek Traynor on a vital St Helens victory: "A win was vital for us after losing against Widnes. We worked hard for it as well and deserved it.

"We put ourselves under pressure with unforced errors but they scrambled well for one another and I was pleased to only concede one try.

"Sean Long is introducing a few new things in training and you can see there is a willingness there to keep the ball moving and play football. You are seeing in glimpses what we can do and where we want to be but we need to do that for longer periods. 

"I thought the lads really pulled together out there. You could see there was a lot of team spirit and they were working hard for each other."

Leigh coach Neil Jukes is keeping his sight on the long term: "I don't think you can question the effort and integrity of the boys. At the moment we just don't have that quality and are missing experience. We created enough opportunities but only managed to get one over the line. We have got to start posting more points than what we are doing.

"We did it tough on the back of a lot of injuries but I have just said to the players, the challenge was always to be in the top eight and it's not unachievable. We need to get some more bodies back and add some quality as and when we can get it.

"Some of our younger players are looking a bit battle worn because they have played more minutes than I would have liked but that's because of injuries.

"You have got to make sure you do all the little things to give you a chance of winning a game.

"I am disappointed that we switched off a little defensively in the second half because there is no hiding place at this level."