ST HELENS made it seven wins out of seven but they were pushed all the way by an improved London Broncos, who were mauled by Bradford Bulls in midweek. In sweltering conditions, London showed few signs that this was their fifth game in 16 days. Chris Thorman opened their account with a penalty before the visiting team hit back with a try by Micky Higham that Sean Long converted.
London capitalised on a number of errors by St Helens. Dennis Moran sent Andrew King over for a try that Thorman converted, then Barry Ward lost possession 40 metres out and Jim Dymock dummied his way over to increase London’s lead. Paul Wellens pulled a try back for St Helens, Long brought them level with a penalty and Ade Gardner crossed for Long to convert again.
The Broncos kept battling, and were rewarded when Thorman put Moran in. Thorman’s conversion brought them to within six points, but when Albert soared high to palm Long’s bomb back to John Stankevitch for a try, London’s resistance was finally broken.
SCORERS: London Broncos: Tries: King, Moran, Dymock. Goals: Thorman 3. St Helens: Tries: Higham, Wellens, Albert, Gardner, Stankevitch. Goals: Long 5.
LONDON BRONCOS: P Sykes; S Hall, T Martin, N Roy, A King; D Moran, C Thorman; F Stephenson, N Budworth, S Retchless, B Peden, J Mbu, J Dymock. Substitutes: R Bawden, A Hamilton, R Jackson, D Kennedy.
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ST HELENS: D Albert; A Stewart, P Wellens, D Smith, A Gardner; S Long, M Higham; D Britt, K Cunningham, M Edmondson, M Bennett, T Jonkers, J Hooper. Substitutes: J Kirkpartrick, K Mason, J Stankevitch, B Ward.
Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).