As always, Sky Sports’ coverage of St Helens’ win over Wigan Warriors was excellent especially when Man of the Match Jack Welsby appeared at the touch screen with Jon Wells to explain one his key moments in the clash on his 100th St Helens appearance.
One of the moments focused on was when he caught out Wigan winger Liam Marshall to create Tommy Makinson’s second try of the game.
Reflecting on this, Brian Carney said that Liam Marshall to listen back to the comments to use them as an excuse to his coach: “Thanks to Jack Welsby on game 1o0 telling us what he does in a game and what the opposition.
“If I was Liam Marshall, I would be listening back to that and bringing it back into the team’s review as an excuse to Matt Peet for the actions in that Tommy Makinson try.”
It was a great win for the Saints and they got off to a strong start. After an Iain Thornley mistake, St Helens pounced early. Jack Welsby fed a short ball to Joe Batchelor. Wigan defence scrambled to deny him but he twisted and turned to get the ball down.
After a slow start, on their first attacking set a reserve kick back inside and the blistering pace of Jai Field saw him catch out Jack Welsby and score.
Jonny Lomax carved up the Wigan defence, Jai Field tackled him but Lomax still had a chance to ground it still Smithies swooped in and wrapped up the ball.
After that Smithies tackle, Wigan gave away a penalty but going for goal Tommy Makinson hit the post. The Saints were able to get the ball back and eventually got a scrum. Then a lovely move gave Jack Welsby the space to feed Makinson.
You will have to wait a long time to see a bigger tackle than this. A kick from French put Abbas Miski into space but as he caught the ball he was smashed by a huge tackle by Jack Welsby.
Again Wigan were able to get down field and another kick behind, this time from French, wrong footed Jack Welsby who slipped allowing French to pick it up and score.
Jack Welsby notched a key try before the break when he bounced off a Jack Welsby tackle, kicked ahead and grounded the ball despite cover from Field.
After some barnstorming runs in the first half, Paasi Agnatius Paasi capitalised on a quick play the ball and skill from Saints’ spine players to score.
Jack Welsby crossed for a second try that effectively killed the game at the start of the season. It came after a probing run from James Roby. Then after a quick play the ball, Lewis Dodd darted and fed Welsby to score.
Jack Welsby was at the centre of everything and the Saints fullback produced a sublime cut out pass to put Tommy Makinson over for a second.
Wigan had the final say in the game as Abbas Miski scampered in at the corner.
