Lancashire Lynx 14 Saints Select 34 MADE to struggle in the first half, a Saints side which was an amalgam of first teamers and Academy starlets duly took the spoils in this historic friendly at the rain-sodden Deepdale ground of Preston North End FC, writes Denis Whittle.

However, with no disrespect intended to the gallant Second Division squad, the result was purely academic to Saints, whose main concern was that all should emerge unscathed with a demanding Super League season in prospect.

In particular classy stand-off Tommy Martyn, whose first game since suffering a second knee fracture last May found him reporting no reaction and being generally delighted by the way things had gone.

The debut of Australian prop Brett Goldspink was another cause for satisfaction in the Knowsley Road camp, for the ex-Oldham forward scored two tries and, overall, gave the impression that Saints have made a very shrewd signing indeed.

The lively Lynx were full value for their 14-10 interval lead, with their tries coming from Neil Parsley and Neil Allday, who also landed three goals, while Paul Anderson and Goldspink touched down for Saints with skipper Bobbie Goulding adding a conversion.

Lancashire remained in control until the 50th minute, but with Martyn, Goulding and Goldspink back after being substituted Saints then added 24 unanswered points through tries by Goldspink, Andy Haigh, Steve Hall and Dale Holdstock.

Goulding added another five goals in a Saints' display in which the younger players - John Hamilton, Paul Wellens, Alan Cross and Scott Barrow in particular - lost nothing by comparison with the senior squad members.

Lancashire Lynx: Allday; Waring, Abram, Finney, Parsley; Jones, Kelly; Taylor, Ruane, Briscoe, Gee, Walsh, Solomon. Substitutes Fairhurst, McLoughlin, Norton, Westwood, Mawdsley, Donno.

Saints Select: Johnson; Pimblett, Haigh, Barrow, Hall; Martyn, Goulding; Leathem, Hamilton, Goldspink, Newall, Anderson, Holdstock. Substitutes Mathison, Hammond, Cross. Scott Barrow, Wellens, Matautia.

Referee: Robert Connolly.

Attendance 1,405.

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