Wakefield Trinity lose out to bogey side Saints after shock second half surrender

Daryl Powell’s men had not beaten Saints in their previous four meetings since coming back up to the top flight and looked to have their best chance to finally get one over them with their opponents coming into the game short of form with just one win from their last six outings.

Those hopes were looking higher when they scored the first two tries of the match and looked to be in control after making it through a tricky start.

However, they were simply blown away in the second half as they lost 46-16 to have their top two hopes severely dented and leave head coach Daryl Powell bitterly disappointed at the way his side finished the game.

And the defeat came at a cost with the loss of full-back Josh Rourke and back rower Isaiah Vagana to injuries.

With winger Tom Johnstone ruled out before kick-off Trinity were immediately dealt another blow as Rourke exited the pitch in the fourth minute with a head and leg injury after an unfortunate collision as he challenged for a high ball.

It forced an early reshuffle with Corey Hall going to full-back and another rejig was needed later when Vagana went off with a dislocated shoulder.

All this did not help Wakefield get into their usual rhythm and they were off it anyway even though they were able to build a first half lead.

Saints should have scored in the third minute when Jacob Douglas went for a kick despite it looking easier for him to score himself.

But Trinity’s somewhat shaky start was forgotten when Tyson Smoothy finished powerfully from close range after going from dummy-half and Jack Sinfield goaled in off the post.

And within five minutes they were over again as brilliant play with a dummy and well timed pass by Sinfield sent Vagana charging over. In the act of scoring, though, he damaged his shoulder and had to leave the field.

That was as good as it got for the hosts who were unable to make further pressure count and found themselves pegged back after a smart kick by Jackson Hastings was followed up by Tristan Sailor to score.

Hastings converted and was on target again when Sailor's cut-out pass gave former Trinity winger Lewis Murphy a chance to finish well in the corner.

The hosts thought they had regained the lead when Jayden Myers collected Jake Trueman’s clever pass to finish in the corner only for his effort to be ruled out as his foot touched the sideline just ahead of him getting the ball down.

But soon after there was no denying Sinfield as he came up with a terrific solo effort and converted his own try to make it 16-12.

Trinity had a big chance to increase their lead early in the second half as Lachlan Walmsley raced over only for video referee to harshly rule a knock-on in the build-up from Corey Hall as he challenged for a high ball.

St Helens took advantage of their good fortune with Murphy scoring his second try, showing why he was such a favourite on this ground as a youngster.

Hastings’ second touchline goal nudged the visitors ahead and they were not to lose the lead again.

Trinity did go close to scoring again as Harvey Smith’s determined last tackle run was halted inches short of the line and Sinfield also ran well again only to be unable to shrug off desperate defenders.

Walmsley was bundled into touch by Sailor as he dived for the line and it seemed the visitors were hanging on at this stage.

But when Caius Faatili was unable to collect Sailor’s grubber kick at the other end the loose ball was pounced on by Billy Keeley for a gamebreaking try.

There was no sign of a comeback this time as Saints ran away with it in the final 15 minutes.

An error, by Sinfield as he was unable to drop on a scruffy kick by Hastings, allowed Sailor to score his second try.

Jake Davies was next to go over and Sailor completed his hat-trick from inside his own half with the home team seemingly giving up.

Davies rubbed salt into the wound with his second as he shrugged off some weak tackling to round off a horrible second half from Trin who had missed a big opportunity to guarantee their place in this year's play-offs.