St Helens 25-24 Salford: Late drama sees Saints win

Match stats: St Helens 25-24 Salford

St Helens tries: Smith (25), Roby (73), Grace (75)
St Helens conversions: Percival (25,29,73,77)
St Helens drop-goals: Smith (80)

Salford tries: Evalds (40,66), Johnson (44), Lui (54)
Salford conversions: Carney (11,40,54,66)

Match report

Matty Smith kicked a long distance drop-goal after the full-time hooter to complete an amazing fightback from St Helens against his old club Salford at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

Smith's perfectly struck kick from 40 metres completed the most remarkable of comebacks from Justin Holbrook's side who had looked dead and buried with seven minutes remaining as they trailed 24-8 and came away with a 25-24 win.

The home side scored three times in the closing stages to claw their way back into the game and eventually seal the win which broke Salford hearts, denying them a first away win against Saints in 37 years.

Salford had looked on course for a famous win after dominating much of the second half. Niall Evalds scored two tries, while half-backs Robert Lui and Todd Carney orchestrated play superbly for the Red Devils.

Both teams struggled to build pressure in a scrappy opening which was littered with handling errors and penalties. The nearest either side came to scoring was in the eighth minute when St Helens centre Mark Percival lost the ball with the try-line at his mercy after being put clear by Zeb Taia's pass.

Salford took the lead with an 11th-minute penalty after Saints were caught holding down in front of their own posts, handing Carney a routine kick.

The home side, who had won 12 and drawn one of their last 14 home Super League games, gradually got on top and the pressure told in the 25th minute when scrum-half Smith took on the Salford defensive line before cutting through to touch down from 10 metres. Percival added the conversion and moments later he kicked a penalty to make it 8-2 after Salford's Kris Welham was guilty of a high tackle.

But Salford, who had won four of their last five away games in Super League, levelled the game after the half-time hooter had sounded. Scrum-half Carney kicked ahead and the bouncing ball evaded the Saints defence, allowing Evalds to touch down by the posts.Carney's goal made it 8-8 at the break.

The Red Devils, who beat Saints 22-14 in the corresponding fixture back in March, regained the lead within four minutes of the restart. They kept the ball alive on the last tackle and Evalds' pass found winger Greg Johnson who produced a superb finish to score from close range. Carney's conversion hit the post.

It got even better for Ian Watson's side as impressive stand-off Lui showed great determination to spin away of a couple of attempted tackles to score from close range in the 54th minute. Carney's conversion opened up an 18-8 lead.

With 14 minutes remaining, Salford looked to have sealed victory when Evalds won the race for a Carney grubber kick into the ingoal area and with Carney adding the extras, Watson's side led 24-8.

That was the cue for the great escape from Saints. James Roby replied for the home side with a try under the posts - his 100th career touchdown - seven minutes from the end and Percival added the conversion.

Winger Regan Grace scored Saints' third try four minutes from the end to raise the hopes of the home fans though Percival was unable to convert.

With two minutes remaining, Jonny Lomax finished off a 30-metre move and Percival's goal made it 24-24. Then it was time for Smith, off balance and struggling to keep his footing, to produce a flash of brilliance with the one-pointer after the hooter.

Match reaction

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook: "It was fantastic to see that sort of finish. I'm just as excited as the players.

"I know it's easy to say because we won but I was always confident that we had a chance. I thought we were unlucky not to have led at half-time and in the second it was all Salford. I think they completed every set and didn't give us a chance.

"It was very gutsy from us. It is great for the players to have that belief to finish like that."

Salford coach Ian Watson: "It was a tough lesson and a tough way to learn a lesson.

"We didn't play particularly well in the first half but we rectified that in the second. We started to play with resilience in defence but in the last 10 minutes it was like we'd already won the game.

"If you do that against any good team you're going to get bit. We need to take that as a lesson and learn it pretty quickly because the further you get down the track there are going to be big games where we need that arm-wrestle mentality.

"I thought Todd Carney controlled the game along with Rob Lui and we got into a big lead but we shouldn't be giving that lead up.

"It's tough to take but we will put it to bed and learn lessons for next week."