Leon Pryce's hat-trick steered St Helens to a clinical victory on an emotional night when Wakefield Wildcats mourned the tragic death of their promising young reserve player Leon Walker.
Walker, 20, collapsed and died during a reserve match against Celtic Crusaders at Maesteg last Sunday, and mystery still surrounds his death.
Post-mortem results showed that the death was not caused by trauma or any injury sustained as a result of playing rugby league, and a confirmed cause has yet to be fully established.
A coroner's inquest has now been opened and adjourned - and Belle Vue paid a moving tribute to Walker's memory prior to kick-off.
At 7.50pm, a television interview with his parents was shown on a big screen as family members and team-mates gathered on the pitch to pay their respects before a minute's silence was impeccably observed.
Wakefield coach John Kear had said before that the result of the match was immaterial in the light of Walker's passing.
In the end it was Pryce who dominated the headlines with an outstanding treble as Saints romped to an impressive victory to build on their success against reigning champions Leeds last week.
His team-mates were almost as impressive as Mick Potter's men ran in four first-half tries from James Graham, Gary Wheeler, Matt Gidley and Pryce.
Pryce added a fifth score shortly after the hour mark and Tony Puletua and Ade Gardner also touched down before Pryce completed his hat-trick in the closing stages.
Wakefield struck first when Steve Snitch touched down after the ball fortuitously fell into his path and Danny Brough added the extras.
But St Helens seized the initiative when Keiron Cunningham and Jon Wilkin combined to send Graham under the posts in the 21st minute.
Four minutes later Wheeler collected a pass from debutant full-back Jonny Lomax and showed impressive pace and clever footwork to weave his way through.
Wheeler converted both scores but Wakefield hit back in the 32nd minute when Aaron Murphy touched down in the left corner and Brough converted from a difficult angle.
Yet Saints scored two further tries from Gidley, who grounded a kick from Wilkin, before Pryce claimed a fine individual effort to increase his side's advantage further.
Saints lost Wheeler to injury in the 59th minute but two minutes later they extended their lead when some brilliant handling kept the ball alive and led to Pryce touching down between the posts.
With Wheeler having departed, Gidley assumed kicking duties and he easily converted Pryce's try.
In the 64th minute, Saints struck again when Puletua's raw aggression took him beyond Wakefield's brittle backline and Gidley converted again.
Gardner touched down in his customary spot in the right corner but this time Gidley could not convert and Wakefield reduced the arrears with seven minutes remaining when Ryan Atkins grounded the ball for a try which Brough converted.
Pryce had the final say when he claimed his third score of the game in the left corner but Gidley could not convert. |
