Saints maintain unbeaten start to title defence

Correspondent

St Helens recovered from their World Club Challenge defeat and kept up their unbeaten start to their Super League title defence with a 21-14 win over winless Castleford. 

Adam Swift crossed for the first try in the 11th minute but Saints, who conceded only twice in their opening two Super League games, had to absorb their fair share of pressure in remainder of the first half.

Mike McMeekan looked to have put Tansey through with his first touch of the ball but the pass was forward.

So too, at least according to the touch judge, was Liam Finn’s offload which would have put Ryan Boyle over for the equaliser.

The onslaught continued but Jonny Lomax managed to get his fingertips to former teammate Michael Shenton’s inside pass before turning provider at the other end of the field.

The 24 year-old, who spent most of last season on the sideline, took a short ball from Travis Burns to slip through a gap before looping the pass to Tommy Makinson for 10-0 at the break.

Castleford could hardly wish for a worse start for the second-half, Justin Carney gifting Josh Jones a gift of a try with an over-adventurous pass on the kick return.

But the big Australian winger more than made up for his error after touching down for a quickfire double to put the Tigers back within six points. 

Cumbrian forward Kyle Amor was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle but Saints rallied and put the game beyond doubt, scoring through Mark Percival who in turn converted from the touchline for 20-8.

Jon Wilkin added a drop-goal before the Tigers grabbed a consolation through Tansey after a pinpoint reverse kick from Luke Gale.