ST HELENS 36 HULL KR 12
TOM ALDERSON, BrewDog Stadium, Friday

A DISAPPOINTING season for St Helens finished on a high, with two club legends, Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival, both going out winners against a youthful Hull KR side.

Playing in the infamous Red Vee for the final time after illustrious careers, both players got on the scoresheet and played a vital role in Saints overcoming a stubborn Robins side, who welcomed back Mikey Lewis from suspension, but were made up largely of reserves and academy talent.

Much like St Helens’ season, it wasn’t pretty at times as the hosts stuttering attack took a while to click in the face of desperate and defiant Rovers defence.

However, once the breakthrough came after 26 minutes, Saints were never behind and, despite Rovers pushing them close in the second half, they closed their season out with a comfortable victory.

It’s been a season of what could have been for Saints, with a mix of injuries and poor performances seeing them miss out on the play-offs for the first time in their Super League history.

For Rovers, despite the loss, the travelling fans got a glimpse at the future, which looks bright based on this performance, as the flurry of youngsters, including six debutants, held their gloves up well and at times threatened to get a result.

It was an end-to-end opening quarter in which both sides had chances but neither were able to execute well enough to trouble the scores.

After a number of near misses, it was Saints who broke the deadlock through Percival, who burst onto a pass from Lomax and reached behind his head to touch down in his farewell game.

Tristan Sailor added the first of four goals, with both Lomax and Percival also going on to score one apiece.

Lomax joined Percival as a retiring try-scorer soon after, backing up a break from Sailor before taking the pass from his centre to dive over and double his side’s advantage approaching half-time.

And with the young Robins starting to tire, there was just enough time for Lomax to squeeze over for his second as the hooter sounded, following back-to-back sets on the opposite tryline, giving Saints a healthy 18-0 lead at the break.

Hull KR started the second half with renewed energy and grabbed the first try through Bill Leyland, who barged over from dummy-half after Lewis was held up just short to open the visitors’ account.

Jack Charles tagged on the extras and did so again eight minutes later as the Robins made it back-to-back tries thanks to a scintillating solo effort from debutant Flynn Holden, who burst into the backfield from 30 metres out and weaved his way past the cover defence, pulling the score back to 18-12.

However, any nerves from the home fans were calmed just after the hour when Saints put daylight between the sides again.

A nice in-and-away from Deon Cross on his opposite number saw him cross out wide to put the home side back in control inside the final quarter.

And Saints put the game beyond doubt with two more quick tries, with Jacob Host powering over from close range and Harry Robertson crossing the whitewash shortly after following a half-break from Jacob Douglas to send their home fans home happy.

GAMESTAR: In his final game, Jonny Lomax was everywhere for Saints and the architect of everything they did well; a performance typifying the class we’ve seen throughout his career.

GAMEBREAKER: Deon Cross’ try in the second half put Saints back in control of the game and extinguished any danger of a Robins comeback.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Young KR fullback Flynn Holden produced the play of the game, with a fantastic solo score from 30 metres out to bring his side right back into the contest.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Jonny Lomax (St Helens)
2 pts David Klemmer (St Helens)
1 pt Bill Leyland (Hull KR)

MATCHFACTS

SAINTS
1 Jack Welsby
6 Tristan Sailor
4 Mark Percival
5 Deon Cross
26 Jacob Douglas
3 Harry Robertson
7 Jonny Lomax
35 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
30 Tom Humphreys
13 David Klemmer
11 Curtis Sironen
37 Billy Keeley
22 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
14 Jacob Host
38 Matty Evans
39 Chris Matagi
40 Jed Cartwright
18th man (not used)
43 Oscar Knox
Also in 21-man squad
34 Cole Marsh
41 Jack Campbell
– Luca Walsh

Tries: Percival (26), Lomax (34, 40), Cross (63), Host (68), Robertson (70)
Goals: Sailor 4/4, Lomax 1/1, Percival 1/1

HULL KR
38 Flynn Holden (D)
26 Harvey Horne
25 Louix Gorman
21 Noah Booth
23 Lee Kershaw
6 Mikey Lewis
24 Jack Charles
28 Zach Fishwick
22 Bill Leyland
30 Cobie Wainhouse (D)
33 Frankie Dearlove
37 Ryan Westerman (D)
36 Alfie Woods
Subs (all used)
31 Declan Murphy
39 Alex Gorman (D)
40 Theo Middlemas (D)
41 Alfie Petty (D)
18th man (not used)
42 Harrison Horne
Also in 21-man squad
8 Sauaso Sue
15 Sam Luckley
43 Teo Ema

Tries: Leyland (44), Holden (52)
Goals: Charles 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0; 18-6, 18-12, 24-12, 30-12, 36-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Saints: Jonny Lomax; Hull KR: Bill Leyland

Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 18-0
Referee: Matty Lynn
Attendance: 10,117