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COACH : Daniel Anderson(2005-06-26 : 2008-12-31 ) |
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : Saints ensured that their eleven-month unbeaten run away from Knowsley Road continued without too much drama with a 34-20 win against Les Catalans Dragons, that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. After a slow start, Saints scored their six tries in a half-hour spell either side of half-time before their attentions shifted to Friday’s trip to Salford. The Dragons had become only the second team in ten matches to score the first try of the game when scrum-half Mick Dobson touched down on sixteen minutes, before the Australian converted his own try. It was no more than the French team deserved, who had the best of the opening exchanges and had already gone close through hooker David Bethezene. They managed to extend their lead through a penalty after Saints were caught offside, but the Knowsley Roaders have not yet been behind at half-time in 2006, and they were determined not to end that particular run. James Graham scored his third try of the season from Sean Long’s short pass, then fellow prop forward Maurie Fa’asavalu powered over. Lyon’s successful conversion gave Saints a slender 10-8 lead, to ease the anxieties of the 1200 travelling Saints fans. The second half was a different story as Saints ran in 22 points in 18 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. Vinnie Anderson, playing on the right wing in the absence of Ade Gardner, rose highest to claim Sean Long’s hanging kick, before Jon Wilkin opened his 2006 account when he scored under the posts. The Dragons had a try disallowed for a double movement, and their disappointment was compounded when Saints went on the attack and Long finished off good work by Graham. Long turned provider once again, as Anderson rose above Justin Murphy to claim his second, and fourth try in as many games. 32-8 ahead, Saints were guilty of losing their concentration, allowing the home side to score twice in the remaining quarter to become the first side to score twenty points against Saints in 2006. Sebastian Martins try put the Dragons into double figures and, with Maurie Fa’asavalu in the sin-bin for a late tackle, John Wilson rounded off a slick passing move just before the hooter. Dragons: Renaud Guigue, Justin Murphy, John Wilson, Mark Hughes, Frederic Zitter, Sean Rudder, Mick Dobson, Chris Beattie, David Berthezene, Adel Fellous, Pascal Jampy, Jamal Fakir, Aurelien Cologni. Subs: Jerome Guisset, Gregory Mounis, Sebastien Martins, Lionel Teixedo. T: Dobson, Cologni, Wilson. G: Dobson (4/4) Saints: Paul Wellens, Vinnie Anderson, Jamie Lyon, Willie Talau, Ian Hardman, Scott Moore, Sean Long, Nick Fozzard, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Lee Gilmour, Mike |
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