Walsall 19

Liverpool St Helens 29 THE LSH improvement continued at Walsall in a game of contrasting periods swinging from mediocrity to brilliance.

LSH started well and scored after 10 minutes when a defensive kick by Walsall was fielded by winger Paul Brett on his 10 metres line. He linked with Brian Wellens who threw a long pass to Mark Sephton, who scored from half way.

LSH continued to attack, and spurned two opportunities to add to the lead through penalties, taking tapped kicks instead.

From the second kick Walsall cleared their line, but only as far as Brett again, who made ground, linked with full-back Phil Graham, who put Sephton in for his second try which Brett converted. On the half-hour Mills kicked a penalty for Walsall and the half time score was 12-3.

Early in the second half Mills kicked his second penalty but after 10 minutes LSH gained another penalty in front of the posts and opted for a tap kick.

This time it resulted in a try for Paul Brett.

Mills again chipped away at the lead with another penalty, but Brett replied with a tremendous run from deep in his own half, beating several players in very confined space, when eventually checked he passed to the supporting Kevin Davies who scored for Brett to convert.

On 25 minutes Brett again made a good break which Phil Graham finished off to stretch the lead to 29-9.

The referee then lectured a Walsall player after intervention by the touch judge, also spoke to the Walsall captain and then strangely awarded the penalty to Walsall, who, following a well worked set move, scored their only try converted by Mills, who added his fourth penalty five minutes from the end.

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