Super League: Jack Welsby secures golden point to seal St Helens comeback against Wakefield Trinity

St Helens trailed 12-0 after 55 minutes, but converted tries from Regan Grace and Jon Bennison brought them back into the competition ahead of Jack Welsby’s gold-point winner; Jorge Taufau and Jack Croft plus two Mason Lino penalties gave Wakefield the lead

Jack Welsby’s golden goal secured St Helens a dramatic 13-12 comeback victory in their top v bottom clash against Wakefield Trinity.

Saints, who now lead second place Wigan Warriors by six points in Betfred’s Super League table, trailed 12-0 after 55 minutes at Be Well Support Stadium but tries from wingers Regan Grace and Jon Bennison, more two conversions from Jonny Lomax, brought the level of visitors.

Both teams wasted chances to snatch the win in normal time and Jacob Miller puffed his lines in extra time before Welsby struck after Lomax slipped while lining up his own shot.

Game history

A fifth successive defeat was hard to swallow for the premises who remain at the bottom of the points scale with Toulouse.

Wakefield, who made his debut with Hull FC loanee full-back Jamie Shaul, started brilliantly in wet conditions and Kelepi Tanginoa was held off as he dived towards the line.

The Saints’ reprieve was brief and Jorge Taufua gave the home side a deserved lead in the 11th minute with Mason Lino’s exquisite pass. Lino’s conversion attempt hit the post.

The visitors looked anything but a champion side at this stage with Alex Walmsley’s unusual midfield fumble summing up their approach.

Jorge Taufua was on the scoresheet for Wakefield

Saints slipped further behind when Lino kicked in a 25th-minute penalty for offside and Wakefield kept the pressure on, with another error seeing the home side extend their advantage almost immediately.

Welsby did well to deny Lino a 40-20 but only managed to return the ball to his own unguarded line and center Jack Croft was the first to react, landing for his side’s second try and only his second try for the club. However, this time Lino hit the other post with his conversion attempt, much to the frustration of the stalemate.

Saints pressure was unresponsive before the break and Trinity, as they had at Hull Kingston Rovers a week earlier, led at half-time. The interval did not change fortunes for the visitors and Lino netted a routine goal after 48 minutes to make it 12-0 after Konrad Hurrell was penalized for a push.

Finally, as Wakefield struck twice, the Saints fought back with a flying finish from Grace after 55 minutes. Lomax, in his 300th career appearance, threw a sideline conversion.

St Helens striker Matty Lees runs at the Wakefield defense

With 10 minutes to go, the Saints scored again as deft handling in drying conditions saw the teenager Bennison through into the right corner. Lomax again added the extras to even the scores.

Lomax’s winning drop goal attempt was brought down by Tinirau Arona while Welsby missed a one-point attempt, as did Miller for Trinity.

Welsby and Joey Lussick scuffed further one-point attempts and Miller made two hashes of his own effort before Welsby’s left boot sealed the Saints’ 17th league win of the season.

And after?

Wakefield makes the short trip to Castleford Tigers for a live derby clash sky sports next Friday (kick-off at 8 p.m.). St Helens return to action the following Sunday with a trip to the Salford Red Devils.