St Helens suffer Alex Walmsley injury blow

St Helens were dealt a big blow to prop Alex Walmsley, who was forced from the field just minutes in to their game against Wakefield on Friday night.

The England international left the action just two minutes into their home game against Trinity on Friday night with what looked like a hamstring injury.

He had only taken up one carry when he waved to the sideline and came off.

Walmsley was replaced by Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook as he went for treatment, with youngster George Delaney forced in to long minutes as a result.

St Helens coach on Alex Walmsley injury

Saints boss Paul Wellens said: “Alex felt his hamstring and obviously felt he had to leave straight away, which is never a good sign.

“We’ll get him assessed and scanned over next few days.

It comes as a huge blow to Walmsley and St Helens, who face rivals Wigan in the Good Friday derby next week.

Wellens added: “It’s far too early to say for next week, but I’m never an optimist with hamstring injuries. We’ll see what the scan shows up.”

They didn’t suffer any further injury problems, but Will Hopoate did receive some lengthy treatment in the second half.

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Story of the match

Wakefield had defied grim expectations in the first period, helped at times by Saints’ lack of focus, as they kept within touching distance after Mark Percival had raced through their static rearguard to open the scoring.

After Saints prop Matty Lees inexplicably chose to run straight into Jay Pitts with options glaring to his left, the momentum shifted, and Wakefield pressed forward when the normally dependable Jack Welsby fumbled Morgan Smith’s punt forward.

Jai Whitbread burrowed inches from the line but Wakefield coughed up possession from a bungled play-the-ball, and moments later, given another chance, Pitts sprang clear on the right only for Lino to fumble his pass inside with a try at his mercy.

Inevitably, Wakefield were punished, with first Hopoate then Makinson crossing in opposite corners to stretch Saints’ lead to 12 points at half-time, the visitors only hanging on by virtue of the latter’s trio of missed conversions.

Saints continued to lack their usual snap after the interval, allowing Will Dagger a free run at their line before knocking-on on the edge of their 10, but the visitors, for all their undoubted effort, were ill-equipped to make their spells of territorial possession pay.

Assuming kicking duties, Percival booted Saints further clear from in front of the posts after Wakefield strayed offside, and any hint of hope for the visitors was extinguished approaching the halfway point of the second period when Welsby punctured the Wakefield line and sent Dodd over with Percival adding another two.

Hurrell proved unstoppable in barging over for his late brace while Lomax capitalised on a fortunate ricochet to grab a score in his 300th game.

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