After last nights bloockbuster at the DW which saw the Warriors triumph in a last minute win over the Rhinos, Langtree Park played host to third against fourth as Saints took on the Huddersfield Giants.

A win for Saints, who have only lost once to the Giants in St Helens in the Super League era, would see them within one point of the league leaders. A win for the Giants would see them go above Saints into third thanks to a superior points difference.

Saints were slight favourites with the bookies with the Giants getting a six point start on the coupon. The stage was set for another cracker.

The Giants had blown three gilt-edged chances before a Joe Wardle knock-on five out from his own line presented Saints with a great attacking opportunity and debutant Adam Quinlan picked up a ricocheted grubber off Scott Grix and went through a gap to score by the sticks. Luke Walsh slotted over the two and after seventeen minutes the Saints had a 6-0 lead.

On twenty-one Jack Hughes opened the Giants account as he stretched to score one-handed after Saints were penalised for interference at the play the ball. Jamie Ellis kicked the conversion to level the scores.

On the half hour, Quinlan got his second of the night after Andre Savelio offloaded under a three man tackle and the Saints full-back dribbled the ball forward and collected his own kick to dive over under the sticks. Walsh was good with the boot.

The Saints lead lasted just two minutes before the Giants struck back. On the last tackle Scott Grix put in a grubber to the right corner and Jermaine McGillvary collected and grounded without a Saints hand on him. Ellis converted from the touchline with aplomb for 12-12.

On thirty-seven Adam Quinlan completed his first half debut hat-trick when he supported a brilliant break from James Roby to take the pass twenty out and go over by the right upright. Walsh kicked the two to take his side into the interval with a six point lead at 18-12.

Four minutes into the second half and Leroy Cudjoe went over in the corner after dummying to throw to the wing and ducking under a high Saints attempted tackle. Ellis converted from close to the touchline to level things again at 18-18.

On forty-eight Mark Percival went close to the line but grounded short and then appeared to be pulled over the line by Danny Brough and after consulting the video referee the try was given. Walsh converted in off the upright. The tit-for-tat scoring continued.

On fifty-four some fast passing to the right put McGillvary free on the right wing to improve the angle past a lacklustre Saints defence and make the Ellis conversion a simple one to once again level the scores.

One minute prior to the hour Saints again edged ahead when Joe Greenwood took a short pass from James Roby to run the angle and get over the whitewash. Walsh made sure with the extras.

Within four minutes the margin was twelve points when Percival juggled the ball and beat three Giants tacklers to wriggle free and score his second of the night. Walsh missed his first conversion of the night but the try had made it 34-24 to the home side.

There were twelve minutes left when Eorl Crabtree used all his strength to carry three Saints tacklers over the line to score by the right upright. Ellis kicked the extras to reduce the arrears to four points.

Eight minutes remained and the Giants drew level once again when Aaron Murphy hit the line off an Ellis pass. Ellis missed one of his simpler conversions of the night for 34-34.

When Saints Percival put the kick-off out on the full, Danny Brough opted to take the fifty metre penalty but it came up short.

One hundred and twenty seconds remained when Luke Walsh dropped a goal from the thirty metre line on the third tackle for a one point advantage. Saints ran the clock down to take a one point win and get within a point of the Rhinos at the top of the table.

For the second night running Super League had a belter of a game that was nip and tuck from start to finish. Saints held on for the win but the Giants will count the missed chances early in the game which would have seen them take the points back to Huddersfield.

Saints: Quinlan (3T), Dawson, Percival (2T), Turner, Swift, Burns, Walsh (5G, DG), Amor, Roby, Masoe, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood (T), Jones. Subs: Walmsley, Flanagan, Richards, Savelio.

Giants: Grix, McGillvary (2T), Cudjoe (T), Murphy (T), Broughton, Brough, Ellis (5G), Crabtree (T), Robinson, Huby, Wardle, Hughes (T), Ta'ai. Subs: Lawrence, Kopczak, Wood, Mason.


Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: 11,164