Ben Barba inspires St Helens to huge win at Salford
Photo courtesy of Richard Long
Ben Barba scored a hat-trick to help St Helens run in 11 tries and seal an impressive win over Salford Red Devils.
Ian Watson made three changes to his Salford side that beat Wakefield Trinity last time out. Lee Mossop, Jake Shorrocks and Lama Tasi came in for Weller Hauraki, Robert Lui and Daniel Murray.
Justin Holbrook made two changes to his St Helens side that thrashed Huddersfield last week. Mark Percival and Zeb Taia replaced Matty Costello and Luke Douglas.
St Helens scored the opening try just three minutes into the game at the AJ Bell Stadium. Ben Barba threw a fine cut-out pass to Tommy Makinson who dived over in the corner. Danny Richardson failed to convert, but Saints were 4-0 up.
The hosts failed to deal with a towering bomb from St Helens and it resulted in Dom Peyroux gliding under the posts. Richardson added the extras to put his side 10-0 up.
In the 16thminute, Regan Grace made a flying break down the left channel and the ball went to the supporting Barba who beat two Salford defenders to score. Richardson’s boot made the score 16-0 to the away side.
Saints were in again as Ryan Morgan crashed over out wide. Richardson added the conversion and St Helens were 22-0 to the good.
Salford pulled one back on the half hour mark. Tyrone McCarthy went through a gap in the St Helens defence to score from close. Shorrocks converted but Salford were still 22-6 down.
Saints had a try disallowed on the half hour mark. Jonny Lomax thought he had scored, but it was ruled out for a knock on over the line.
Barba intercepted a Josh Wood pass and went the length of the field to go over. Richardson converted, Salford 6-28 St Helens.
St Helens forward Taia had a try chalked off by the video referee after Matty Lees put a high shot on Niall Evalds and the young Saints prop was sent off as a result.
Grace extended Saints’ lead just before the break. He did well to stay in the field of play and finished excellently in the corner. Saints were 32-6 ahead at half time.
Wales star Grace scored his second midway through the second half with another good finish. Richardson converted to put Saints 38-6 to the good.
St Helens scored another just two minutes after Grace’s second. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook made a fantastic break before Taia assisted Percival, Salford 6-42 St Helens.
Barba completed his hat-trick on the hour. He latched onto a grubber from Richardson to dive over. Richardson’s boot took the score to 48-6.
Junior Sa’u was sent to the sin bin in the 63rdminute for foul play, while Barba left the field shortly after on a stretcher and didn’t return.
Theo Fages scored against his former club late on as he scampered through a gap to score from close range. Richardson added the conversion to put Saints in a 54-6 lead after 74 minutes.
With three minutes of the game remaining, Morgan got his second of the night as he got on the end of a Makinson kick. Richardson’s conversion took the score to 60-6 in favour of Saints.
Salford scored a consolation try at the death through Kris Welham. Shorrocks failed to convert and Saints ran-out impressive 60-10 victors.
Salford: Evalds; Johnson, Sa’u, Welham, Bibby; Shorrocks, Littlejohn; Mossop, Tomkins, Burgess, Griffin, Lannon, Flanagan. Subs: Wood, Kopczak, Tasi, McCarthy.
St Helens: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Richardson; Amor, Smith, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin. Subs: Fages, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lees, Knowles.
Starman: Ben Barba was absolutely sensational (again). He scored a hat-trick and was a constant threat for Saints until he was forced to leave the field on a stretcher.
