Saints were looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season as they travelled the M62 to take on the Wakefield Wildcats, who themselves have had an impressive start to the season. History was on Saints side as they'd triumphed in nine of the last ten meetings between the sides.

Saints needed to win by fourteen or more to go back above the Rhinos into top spot, but a win for Wakefield would see them up to third in the Super League XX table, snapping at Saints heels.

The first half was end-to-end with plenty of mistakes from both sides, a number of injuries (most notably to Saints players), a the lead changing hands on a couple of occasions.

Saints opened the scoring when an offload from Walmsley went into the hands of the ever dependable Wellens who stretched over from ten metres to score one-handed. Percival, before going off with what looked like a twisted ankle, goaled.

On twenty, fast hands from the Wildcats saw Ashurst through a gap to walk over the line unopposed and when Hall added the extras the game was all square. Both sides squandered clear scoring chances within second of one another on the half hour and with five minutes to go, the home side snatched the lead after a fabulous Lyne intercept and break gained good position in the Saints twenty. A fast play the ball and Miller found Lyne to cross. Halls conversion gave the Wildcats a not undeserved 12-6 lead at the break.

Saints were back level within seven minutes of the restart after McCarthy-Scarsbrook intercepted and went sixty metres. A quick play allowed Greenwood to crash over through a broken defence. Makinson was now kicking for the visitors and made it 12-12.

On fifty the Saints edged a two point lead from Makinsons boot after Paea conceded a penalty thirty out and on fifty-four a kick through was missed by the Wildcats defenders and pounced upon by Turner to score. As Makinsons conversion glanced in off the post the margin was eight points but the Wildcats weren't done.

Ten from the end and a great break down the right wing culminated with a Collis chip over which was collected and scored by Owen. Hall failed to convert but set up a frantic final ten minutes.

The Wildcats threw everything at Saints but couldn't find a way through a robust defence and with Wakefield a metre from the Saints line the final hooter denied the home side and sent Saints home with the points.

This was an end to end game, marred by some match-ending injuries to key Saints players which in the end gave us a close spectacle which could have gone either way right to the last second. All credit to Saints for digging in and holding on but Wakefield must know that this was a great opportunity that they let pass.

Wildcats: Hall, Riley, Collis, Lyne, Owen, Miller, Smith D, Smith T, Washbrook, Scruton, Kirmond, Ashurst, Ryan. Subs: Lauatiiti, McShane, Simon, Paea.

Saints: Lomax, Makinson, Percival, Turner, Swift, Wellens, Wilkin, Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Vea, Greenwood, Flanagan. Subs: Masoe, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Hohaia.

Referee: Robert Hicks
Attendance:4,104