Saints pull off Tiger feat

Meli: scored try for St Helens in the last minute

Two late tries from Ade Gardner and Francis Meli enabled St Helens to come from behind and beat Castleford 22-20 on Monday.

The Tigers had led by eight points against a makeshift Saints side that finished with two forwards in the half-back positions. However, the late scores, together with Jamie Foster's conversion of Meli's last-gasp effort, ensured the hosts claimed the points.

Both sides suffered narrow defeats on Good Friday and yet despite their undoubted intentions to salvage something from the Easter programme, their was a weariness to proceedings.

Saints were somewhat battle-scarred after their bruising encounter at Wigan, with Paul Wellens replaced by teenager Tommy Makinson and Jon Wilkin partnering Jonny Lomax at half-back in place of Gary Wheeler.

Adjudged forward

The home side had the best chance to score during the first quarter of an hour but Wilkin's pass to Foster in the 14th minute was adjudged forward.

Saints did take the lead five minutes later, though, when Tom Armstrong, who had just come off the bench to make his first appearance of the season, hit Sia Soliola's pass to score.

Foster duly slotted from out wide to make it 6-0 but the Tigers levelled five minutes later after taking full advantage of a mistake from Foster.

He spilled Rangi Chase's swirling high ball and ex-Saint Stuart Jones was on hand to collect and cross from close range, with Kirk Dixon converting.

Dixon's 32nd-minute penalty then edged Castleford ahead - the offender being Scott Moore, who took Chase out after the kick.

Just before the break, however, Armstrong sneaked over in the corner, the Castleford defence half stopping when the ball was knocked from Soliola's grasp in the build-up.

After a brief consultation the try was given, with Foster again finding the target with his kick from the touchline.

Saints were guilty of some sloppy play within a minute of the restart, though, and Castleford took advantage to gain a good attacking position.

Chase soon crossed the whitewash having sold a superb dummy 20 metres out, with Dixon's conversion putting the visitors ahead.

Saints responded with a strong passage of play and Foster almost crossed again in the corner, but his foot hit the touchline after he had collected Armstrong's long ball.

Territorial advantage then swung back towards the Tigers and they were finally rewarded when the combination of a fine pass from Chase and some deft handling was polished off by Jordan Thompson.

Dixon kicked the goal despite a split decision from the touch judges.

Second best

The Tigers then lost Craig Huby, who came off second best after tackling Soliola, and play was stopped for a spell while the player was carried off on a stretcher.

Momentum then shifted decisively in Saints' direction. First, after Wilkin had gathered his own kick and then Cas old boy Michael Shenton fashioned the chance, Gardner crossed in the corner after 73 minutes.

Foster could not convert, leaving the visitors with a four-point lead only for Meli to cross in the corner bang on the hooter.

When it mattered most, Foster was able to find the target from the touchline to hand Saints victory and move them to the summit of the Super League table.