St Helens only made the play-off by virtue of a better points difference than the Catalans Dragons which meant that after a poor season by their very high standards they were the favourites with the bookies to drop out of the race for Old Trafford at the first hurdle as they took on a Warrington Wolves side who were still smarting from not making the top two.
Should Warrington meet expectations and secure the victory then they would set up a visit to Hull KR next weekend, whereas as win for St Helens would see them travel to Wigan to face the old enemy, the Warriors, for a place in the Grand Final.
It promised to be an intense battle.
Tommy Makinson spilled the ball from the kick-off gifting early possession to the Wolves on the Saints line and with eighty seconds on the clock Toby King cut through the defensive line to open the scoring wide left. Josh Thewlis was unable to add the conversion from wide.
A sensational response from Tommy Makinson, a redemption try, levelled the scores as he leapt for the right corner flag off a Jonny Lomax looping pass and grounded one-handed under the tackle. Mark Percival kicked the perfect conversion to put Saints ahead on thirteen minutes.
Saints extended their lead on twenty-three, Percival busting through the line, stepping out of a tackle and spinning on the line to ground. He added the extras to his try for a 12-4 lead. The Warrington panic set in.
The concern of the Wolves fans deepened on thirty-one as Makinson got his second as he bounced over the line under the Warrington tackle and forced the ball onto the ground. Percival hit the post with the conversion attempt, Saints rampaging into a 16-4 lead.
But on thirty-five it was the Wolves who struck back, Matty Ashton taking a beautiful one-handed George Williams pass to cross in the corner from five metres. Thewlis hit the target with the conversion for 10-16, the Wolves back within a converted try.
On thirty-nine Lomax was wide with a drop goal attempt and the sides went into the sheds separated by just a point.
On fifty-three the Wolves were right back in the game as King bust the line and went behind the sticks to dive in and ground for his second try of the evening. Thewlis added the conversion to level the scores at 16-16, it was game on.
Matty Ashton’s second try on sixty-five put the Wolves back into the lead after a terrible Saints pass on their own twenty gifted possession to a grateful Wolves attack. Thewlis nailed the conversion and from twelve behind a swing of eighteen unanswered points saw the Wolves six in front.
There were ninety seconds left on the clock when Jon Bennison grounded in the left corner off a Sione Mata’utia pass to send the Saints fans into ecstacy and the Wolves into apoplexy. Percival had one of the most important conversions of his life and smashed the ball between the uprights for golden point. A fitting end to a see-saw game with more minutes and more excitement.
Interference at the play the ball from Joe Batchelor gifted the Wolves ground and from twenty-metres Josh Drinkwater went for the drop goal but his effort was charged down and Saints regained the ball.
With four minutes of the first period expired the ball was worked to Williams who took his time and slotted over the one-pointer to win the game and break Saints hearts, sending his supporters and team mates into rapture.
It’s Warrington who progress and St Helens whose season comes clattering to a sudden stop. The Wolves will face Hull KR away next weekend for a shot at Old Trafford while Leigh will have the short trip to Wigan for a knockout ‘Battle of the Borough’. It should be an amazing weekend of play-off rugby.
Warrington Wolves: Dufty, Thewlis (3/4 G), Tai, King (2T), Ashton (2T), Williams (DG), Drinkwater, Yates, Walker, Musgrove, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie. Subs: Powell, Harrison, Philbin, Vaughan. 18th Man: Lindop.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson (2T), Mata’utia, Percival (T, 3/4 G), Bennison (T), Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles. Subs: Bell, Paasi, Delaney, Burns. 18th Man: Davies.
Half-Time: 10-16.
Full-Time: 22-22. Golden Point: 23-22.
Score Progression: 4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 4-10, 4-12, 4-16, 8-16, 10-16 : HT: 14-16, 16-16, 20-16, 22-16, 22-20, 22-22 :FT: 23-22 :GP.
Lead Exchanges: Warrington – Square – St Helens – Square – Warrington – Square - Warrington.
Referee: Liam Moore.
