Late miss costs St Helens

Paul Wellens capped a miserable night with the boot by missing a last-minute penalty as Wakefield emerged 22-20 winners at St Helens on Friday night.

The Wildcats were denied victory in heartbreaking circumstances against champions Leeds Rhinos last week, but were not to be denied a first engage Super League victory at Knowsley Road since 2003.

Tries from Ryan Atkins (9), Sam Obst (31) and Scott Grix (49, 57) and three crucial conversions from Danny Brough proved just enough to get them over the line.

The Super League leaders actually outscored their opponents in terms of tries, through Ade Gardner (3), Leon Pryce (23), Chris Dean (26, 69) and Francis Meli (54), but Wellens missed six attempts at goal to hand the visitors a dramatic late win that moves them up to fifth in the standings.

Tight

Saints went ahead in the first five minutes after Ricky Bibey was penalised for a high hit on Andrew Dixon. Gardner it was who finished the sweeping move from right to left with Lee Gilmour providing the final pass out wide. Wellens missed the conversion, but the league leaders held a 4-0 advantage.

Brough put his boot to good use to turn the tide of pressure, but it took a mistake from Saints for the visitors to get on the board. James Graham's offload in the tackle deep into Wildcats territory was not collected by James Roby or Wellens, allowing Atkins to pounce and run three-quarters the length of the field for a breakaway try.

The hosts got back on top, though, with the help of some favourable refereeing decisions from Thierry Alibert. Mick Potter's men took advantage, first through Pryce's powerful run and try and then youngster Dean crossed to extend the lead.

But Wellens' failure to add the extras proved costly when Obst - Man of the Match against Leeds last week - jinked his way through the St Helens defence for Wakefield's second converted try and the game was tied at 12-12 going into half-time.

Drama

Referee Alibert continued his indifferent game after the break, this time missing an obvious forearm/elbow from Jason Demetriou on Wellens in the build up to Wakefield's third try and the Wildcats were allowed to play on and work the ball out wide for Grix.

Saints hit back straight away, though, through Meli, but Wellens again erred with the boot and Wakefield were able to reclaim the lead on their first set after the kick-off. Obst's attempted dink kick through rebounded off Bryn Hargreaves's head back into his own and fell for Grix - now playing at stand-off - to react fastest to touch down for his second try of the half. Danny Brough kicked his third conversion and John Kear's side led 22-16 at that stage.

As if to even things up with the referee, Keiron Cunningham then got away with a punch on James Stosic in the build up to Saints' fifth try. And Dean went on to finish the move before Wellens made it five misses from five with the boot.

It was to get even worse for the England full-back as Michael Korkidas conceded a penalty to give him the chance to earn a draw. Wellens' sixth miss proved Wakefield's gain, though, and saw St Helens slump to just their fifth defeat of the season.