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Blaymire's try seals stunning fightback
Wakefield 29 St Helens 22 ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE
SUPER League debutant Matt Blaymire capped an astonishing second-half turnaround with the clinching try as Wakefield Trinity Wildcats stunned champions St Helens on a memorable afternoon at Belle Vue.
The former York full-back got over from Olivier Elima's pass in the 74th minute and Jamie Rooney's fourth goal of the game turned an 18-6 interval deficit into a 28-18 lead.
Rooney then added a drop goal – to complete a 13-point haul – and though Saints grabbed a consolation try through Matt Gardner four minutes into stoppage time, last year's treble-winners were well beaten.
A shock seemed unlikely at the end of a first half which had seen Saints cruise ahead despite being well below par.
But it seemed Saints thought the job was over and allowed their minds to wander to next weekend's World Club Challenge showdown with Brisbane Broncos.
Inspired by skipper Jason Demetriou, Wakefield took full advantage.
Ryan Atkins had a try ruled out for a forward pass before Ned Catic finished off neat work by Demetriou and Rooney on 44 minutes.
Nineteen later – after Demetriou had been stretchered off, though he was later up and about – Tevita Latu's pass sent Atkins over and on the next attack the outstanding Rooney climbed off the floor to race over and added the extras to edge Wakefield ahead.
With seven minutes left an amazing play by Atkins paved the way for the clinching score.
He shoved Lee Gilmour 15 metres across field into touch to force a Wakefield scrum, Saints were penalised for not packing down properly and the touch finder provided field position for Blaymire to cross. Rooney's penalty gave Wakefield an early lead, but Mike Bennett and James Graham both touched down to ease Saints 12-2 up.
Brett Ferres barged through some weak defence, but Leon Pryce's try and Sean Long's third conversion just before the break seemed to have put the game beyond Wildcats.
Wakefield coach John Kear's interval words of wisdom clearly worked, though he played down his own part in their fightback.
"I don't think it's a matter of what I said at half-time," claimed Kear. "I think it's a matter of all the hard work they've done in the off-season and last week as well.
"They were relaxed this week and we felt we'd prepared well and if we prepare well there's a lot of talent in this team.
"They showed that in the second half. All we said at half-time was stay with it, keep the faith and if we get the next score we'll be in with a shout – that's how it proved to be.
"The senior players led through example and I thought a lot of them really put their hand up. I was delighted with them."
Kear added: "Once you get a bit of confidence and a roll on, it's a momentum game. I was delighted with our second-half performance.
"I'm delighted for the players because they deserve it for all their hard work. We wanted to improve on our first game in certain areas – discipline and use of the ball were two. We did that and I'm delighted with that – but there are further areas we need to address this week."
Saints boss Daniel Anderson described the second half as the poorest 40 minutes of his time at the club.
"For the first time our desire to win the game almost evaporated when Wakefield got a roll on," said Anderson.
"It's as much our undoing as it's their doing. They were allowed to do what they wanted, so it was our poor performance in the second half and their very good one."
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Blaymire, Fox, Demetriou, Atkins, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Obst, R Moore, Elima, MacGillivray, Farres. Subs (all used) P March, Latu, Lima, Catic.
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Bennett, Roby. Subs (all used) Hargreaves, Hardman, S Moore, Fa'asavalu..
Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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