Late Lomax drop-goal seals thrilling win for St Helens

Betfred Super League

Catalans (10) 13

Tries: Tomkins 2 Goals: Tomkins 2 Drop-goal: Keary

St Helens (12) 14

Tries: Sailor 2 Goals: Percival 2 Drop-goal: Lomax 2

Jonny Lomax kicked a late drop-goal as St Helens edged Catalans Dragons 14-13 in a thrilling Super League clash in Perpignan.

Tristan Sailor's quickfire brace put Saints up early before Les Dracs roared back as Sam Tomkins replied with two tries of his own to cut the deficit to two points.

The 36-year-old kicked a penalty to level the scores at 12-12 to set up a nervy finale before Lomax and Luke Keary traded late drop-goals.

But, with the tension mounting and errors creeping in for both sides, Lomax kept his cool to slot over the winning drop-goal with two minutes left to seal a first Saints win in France since 2018.

A first win in three Super League outings lifts St Helens into third place, while Catalans stay ninth after their fourth defeat of the season.

Saints lost 19-year-old centre Harry Robertson inside three minutes after failing an HIA, but full-back Jack Welsby, on his 150th appearance, propelled them into an early 12-0 lead.

His first break and short inside pass gave Sailor a clear sprint to the line, and his second tore deep into Catalans territory before a quick play took him under the posts for his second try in three minutes. Mark Percival converted both.

Much of the pre-match talk centred on Tommy Makinson taking on his former side for the first time, and the full-back had a say on the pitch when his chip ahead held up in the gusting wind and bounced kindly for Tomkins to touch down.

Bayley Sironen was held up over the line before a Nick Cotric foot in touch denied Keary a score as Catalans pressed in a breathless opening half-hour.

The hosts scored again when Tomkins cut back inside and burst through Welsby's tackle to touch down, but then, kicking into a gusting wind, missed a simple conversion.

Catalans enjoyed a let-off moments into the second half when Sailor was judged marginally offside before collecting a high, hanging Lomax kick to send Dayon Sambou over the line.

Paul Wellens' side hung tough in defence, as Cotric was hauled down 10 metres short, and Keary went even closer with an angled run and stretch.

But the pressure told when Saints were caught offside in front of their own posts and Tomkins tied up the scores.

Soon after, Catalans thought they had hit the front for the first time, but Sironen's touchdown was ruled out when Tevita Pangai Junior was deemed to have been tackled in the build-up.

The French side looked destined to wear down their opponents, but the Saints held their nerve and finished strongly.

Tomkins denied Saints a third score with eight minutes left when he got back to prevent Mark Percival collecting his chip through, but seconds later Lomax nudged the visitors back in front.

Keary responded within a minute to tie it up again at 13-all, but the Saints skipper had the final say to clinch a third Super League away win of the season.

Catalans: Tomkins, Makinson, Laguerre, Smith, Cotric, Fages, Keary, Partington, Whitehead, Sironen, Bousquet, Da Costa, Pangai Jr.

Interchanges: Romano, Satae, Seguier, Maria.

St Helens: Welsby, Bennison, Robertson, Percival, Sambou, Sailor, Lomax (c), Walmsley, Whitley, Batchelor, Knowles.

Interchanges: Clark, Paasi, Wingfield, Delaney.

Referee: Jack Smith.