Jonny Lomax stalls Wigan comeback
to avenge St Helens derby defeats
were jumping up and down in front of the TV
at 1am in the morning.
We have had a busy four days.
Conniepops came to stay
and what a delight.
She infects our language
our spirit
and the tidiness of our flat.
What does the latter matter
when a grandchild has us
roaring with laughter -
I asked her to show me her teeth
and she began to pull such funny faces!
But when we dove back to North London
to drop her off with her Mum and Dad
who had been to a big wedding,
we went of to ........
Jeff Chau is in in town.
he was a one year trainee with me
back in 1987/8.
He is living in Hong Kong doing great work.
So we met up in a fab Turkish Restaurant
with
Gill and Steve
Mo and David
and Jeff.
(Both Mo and Gill have had the vivid experience
of being my PA in the past.
Writing real English from my ugly script
and turning out text for books
and multiple articles and journals for years .....
We had such a great time
but then we had to drive home
and sit before the TV
to watch an expected defeat
by the Pie Eaters on OUR TEAM.
When we scored I was up on my feet dancing.
So tense
so pumping adrenalin
so nervous.
SO EXCITED !!
We won.
See the Guardian match report below.
The Pies/sometimes called Wigan
have been the best of teams this season.
Better than us.
They won the Wembley Challenge Cup
and are after the double.
We are third in the Super League
with Wires & Pies above us.
But now in the PLAYOFFS
we have a fighting chance to go to Old Trafford
for the Grand Final
(so do Wires and Pies)
We went to bed after 2am
.These players have put their
lives on the line
physically
blood and sweat
stretching themselves
with body mind spirit skill creativity.
I feel for them so much
Love them so much.
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
We have a week off from playing
then we meet in the semi-finals
maybe with the Pies again????
So here I am bursting with w/end experiences
so read the report below.
Love it Love it
Wigan's Sam Tomkins drops the ball just before the try-line as he is tackled by Saints' Jonny Lomax in the Super League Grand Final play-off. Photograph: John Clifton/Action ImagesSuddenly it is St Helens who are in pole position for a sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance while the Super League champions, Wigan, will have to defend their title the hard way after a surprise result to a stirring contest that made up for the two previous walkovers in this year's play-off series.
This game was everything that those were not, as Wigan responded admirably after a slow start that had left them 14-0 behind, but could not quite haul back a Saints team that was clearly desperate to avenge defeats in the last three derbies, including the Challenge Cup semi‑final last month.
Like Warrington in each of the last two seasons, Wigan have struggled to recapture the standards they set in reaching and winning the Cup at Wembley three weeks ago. This was their second defeat in three matches since, and denies them the luxury of a bye through the second round of the play-offs next weekend – a break that they must need more than any of the other contenders, as they have had by far the most demanding season, which began with the World Club Challenge back in February.
Their coach, Michael Maguire, was determinedly upbeat afterwards, stressing that Wigan had bounced back after losing in the first round of the play-offs last year to win three consecutive matches to take the title. But if Maguire can lead the Warriors back to Old Trafford before he departs for South Sydney at the end of the season, it will surpass his many achievements in two years in England.
In contrast, Saints reaped the benefits in this game of being able to give key players a breather in a series of insignificant league matches since that cup defeat – and it is they who now have a fortnight to prepare for the semi-finals. James Roby, who has led the team indefatigably all season from hooker, looked fresher than he has done for months, and Tony Puletua and Sia Soliola returned from injury to stiffen up the pack.
James Graham, who also leaves for Australia at the end of the season and will therefore be desperate to sign off by ending a run of four consecutive Grand Final defeats, set the usual towering lead in the forwards, and it was his willpower that denied the constant threat of Sam Tomkins at a late stage of the second half, when Wigan still looked capable of a fightback.
But the Saints headliners were in the backs. Jonny Lomax, a 21-year-old who has made such a successful switch to scrum-half this season, scored their second try, then made a brilliant break from deep inside his own half that led directly to a second for the veteran full‑back Paul Wellens.
That was the game's most obvious turning point, as Wigan had surged back after their uncharacteristically slow start with tries either side of half-time from Pat Richards and Sean O'Loughlin cutting the deficit to 14-12. But Saints regained some much-needed breathing space when Wellens surged inside a flatfooted Ben Cross to score.
Wigan, who had fluffed one golden chance before half-time when Sam Tomkins lost the ball over the try-line as he tried to ground it with one hand, went agonisingly close again but the video referee ruled that their wing Josh Charnley had been stopped inches short of the line. Instead, Saints re-established that early 14-point cushion when Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook surged on to Graham's short pass for a powerful try.
Even then, Wigan threatened a late fightback when Joel Tomkins stretched out a long arm to touch down after good work from his younger brother and Tommy Leuluai. But after suffering a cruel defeat here on Good Friday months before that narrow Cup exit, Saints refused to be denied again.
St Helens Wellens; Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster; Gaskell, Lomax; Graham (capt), Roby, Puletua, Soliola, Wilkin, Clough. Interchange Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Dixon, Armstrong.
Tries Wellens, Lomax, Wellens, McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Goals Foster 5.
