London shock leaders St Helens with golden point winner

James Messenger

Morgan Smith kicked a golden point drop-goal to help London claim a shock 23-22 victory over Super League leaders St Helens at Trailfinders Sports Ground. 

Saints took the game to overtime after Regan Grace had crossed in the final minute and Danny Richardson added the subsequent touchline conversion.

However, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook’s knock-on in the very first set of extra-time gave Danny Ward’s side field position, and Smith took full-advantage to send London level on points with Hull KR in the league table.

Despite being without the likes of Lachlan Coote, Alex Walmsley, Tommy Makinson and Jonny Lomax, the visitors started brightly and crossed twice within the first 10 minutes, James Roby burrowing his way over before a deflected kick fell kindly for the onrushing Luke Thompson to score.

However, Ryan Morgan – on-loan for the season from the Saints – bagged an intercept try soon after, before James Cunningham scored on the last play of the half to level it at 12-12 at the break.

Mark Percival re-established the advantage for Justin Holbrook’s side early in the second half, but the lead lasted just five minutes as Morgan bagged his second of the afternoon.

For the first time all match, London hit the front on 67 minutes as captain Jay Pitts latched onto Jordan Abdull’s kick ahead of Jack Welsby.

The visitors crossed in the dying stages through Grace, and although Richardson’s sublime conversion attempt took the game beyond regular time, it was the Broncos who won it within 60 seconds of the restart.

The result leaves London on 10 points from their 17 matches, behind Hull KR on points difference and two points adrift of Leeds in 10th.

The Robins suffered defeat in their first game under new boss Tony Smith as Sam Powell’s superb last-minute drop-goal earned Wigan their first win in four games.

In an evenly-matched encounter, the Warriors took the lead at half-time as tries from George Williams, Dan Sarginson and Joe Burgess cancelled out Jimmy Keinhorst’s 80m intercept score midway through the half.

Will Dagger and Wigan-born Ryan Lannon crossed as KR hit the front, but Liam Marshall’s unconverted try levelled proceedings heading into the final 10 minutes.

The match – which saw Kane Linnett stretchered off and both sides end the game with two available substitutes – looked destined for extra-time, until Powell produced the match-winning one-pointer.

Super League Hull KR

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