St Helens Open Season With Narrow Win Over Leeds

ST HELENS have overcome the loss of England international Johnny Lomax to concussion in the first half to draw first blood as rugby league’s first class club season kicked off against Leeds.
Down 4-0 at halftime in an intense defensive battle at Totally Wicked Stadium, Saints delighted the home crowd with a try to man-of-the-match Theo Fages in the 43rd minute, which Mark Percival converted.
A spectacular try-saving tackle by Tommy Makinson preserved the two-point advantage which lasted until fulltime.
Saints coach Kieron Cunningham told Sky Sports: “Unbelievable emotion when you see a team who has been through a bit of adversity early and they hang in there and they fight. That means a lot to me as a coach.”
Leeds boss Brian McDermott commented: “I’m not too displeased.”