St Helens 12-10 Widnes: Mark Percival penalty wins it for Saints
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 08/07/16 11:15pm
St Helens notched a thrilling 12-10 Super League derby victory over Widnes thanks to a late penalty from Mark Percival.
The scores were locked 10-10 until the Vikings were penalised for a high tackle on Jonny Lomax eight minutes from time.
Percival stepped up to boot the goal which earned the hosts the win and left the visitors still needing a point to be mathematically certain of a place in the Super 8s.
Saints led 10-6 at the interval thanks to tries from Jordan Turner and Matty Fleming, with Percival converting the latter.
But Widnes will consider themselves somewhat unlucky after a battling first half which brought them a Corey Thompson try converted by Rhys Hanbury.
Patrick Ah Van's try made to 10-10 after 56 minutes in an entertaining contest.
Saints, who won 20-12 at Widnes in March, were without Luke Walsh for the fifth match in a row with a calf problem and were also missing Adam Swift and Dominique Peyroux.
Jack Owens stepped onto the wing to face his old club, with Jack Ashworth recalled to replace Peyroux.
Widnes handed a debut on the bench to former Wigan prop Greg Burke, but Aaron Heremaia was sidelined after suffering concussion in the 23-22 win at Leeds.
St Helens made a bright start with a weaving run from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook setting up the platform for Turner to bag only his third try of the season after three minutes. Percival's conversion attempt hit the post.
Charly Runciman almost went over for Widnes after chasing his own kick before Chris Dean went off for treatment to a facial injury.
Hanbury looked a certain scorer but was stopped by Percival as he was about to touch down.
Then it was the Vikings' turn to produce superb defence from Hanbury and Thompson to stop Owens going over in the corner.
They immediately counter-attacked with a sizzling 50-metre move for Hanbury, Lloyd White and Kevin Brown to combine for Thompson to cross midway through the first half.
Hanbury booted the touchline conversion to edge his side 6-4 ahead.
Brown was controlling the midfield for Widnes and his astute kick almost brought a try for Ah Van.
Saints had been unable to build on their encouraging start, with unforced errors not helping their cause.
Widnes lost impressive substitute Gil Dudson with a leg injury on the half-hour, with more outstanding defence then keeping out McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Brown made a try-saving tackle on Turner, with the Vikings defence magnificent until Lomax and Shannon McDonnell combined for Fleming to cross in the corner four minutes before the break. Percival added the conversion.
James Roby was denied a try on his 400th senior appearance by more outstanding defence early in the second half.
Widnes continued to rattle Saints but a wild pass from Hanbury to Ah Van prevented them grabbing a second try.
But Ah Van was not to be denied after 56 minutes, the winger going over in the corner after slick play by Joe Mellor and Brown before Percival's penalty settled the contest.
