Jonny Lomax’s last-minute drop goal secured a dramatic victory for St Helens against in-form Huddersfield Giants, moving Paul Wellens’ side joint-top of the Super League table in the process.
The Saints did not lead all evening until the very final minute of a dramatic contest. Trailing 12-0 midway through the first half, it was Huddersfield, who came into this game on a run of five successive victories, who looked favourites to go on and win. However, the Saints rallied with tries from Tommy Makinson and Daryl Clark to level the scores at 12-12.
And just as the game looked to be heading for golden point extra time, Lomax stepped up with a long-range drop goal to secure victory for the Saints. They certainly weren’t at their best – as has been the case for large parts of this season – but this victory, their seventh in nine league games this season, moves them above Catalans and top on points difference.
It was the Giants, in such scintillating form of late, who began much the better of the two sides. They took an early and deserved lead when Jake Connor and Joe Greenwood combined to create the space for the former St Helens centre Kevin Naiqama, who broke the deadlock against his former club.
Connor converted to make it 6-0, and he was on hand to do the same four minutes later as Huddersfield doubled their lead. Connor was again centrally involved, as his clever kick found space in the Saints backline, and Adam Swift was on hand to react fastest to touch down for his tenth try of the league campaign.
With Connor’s goal making it 12-0, Super League’s best defensive side had been worryingly opened up on numerous occasions. But they clawed their way back into the contest as half-time approached in a pivotal moment; as Huddersfield chanced their arm for a third try, Makinson intercepted a Tui Lolohea pass to go the length of the field.
It was a play that could have led to Huddersfield going 18-0 ahead but instead Mark Percival’s conversion reduced the Giants’ lead to just six at the interval. In and amongst that underwhelming start from the Saints, Wellens reshuffled his spine with Jon Bennison sacrificed, and Jack Welsby returning to his more familiar role of full-back.
It had an impact too, with Welsby’s influence helping drag the Saints back into proceedings. And after half-time, they were the side who began in the ascendancy. They thought they had scored their second of the evening when Matt Whitley capitalised on an error from Elliot Wallis, but replays showed Wallis had been tackled in the air prior to losing the ball.
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However, the Saints would not be denied as the game entered the final quarter, when Clark spotted a gap from dummy-half to give Percival a simple conversion to make it 12-12. By this point, the Giants were clinging on amidst a barrage of Saints attacks and with seconds remaining, Lomax decided the contest with his drop goal to secure victory for the hosts.