EACH week we reflect on a memorable game from the past between Saints the weekend’s opponents.

In 1979 Saints and Wakefield Trinity met in the Challenge Cup semi-final at Headingley in what provided a grandstand finish.

Saints had been beaten at Wembley in 1978, and it was largely the same squad coached by Eric Ashton that had designs on making a swift return to the Twin Towers.

Cup victories against Doncaster, Rochdale and Castleford in the early rounds had put Saints head to the semi-finals.

There they faced Wakefield, who were a handy side, with chunky scrum half Mike Lampkowski forming a partnership with classy David Topliss in the halves.

The backline featured classy dual code international Keith Smith Up front Trinity had the two Raynes, Kevin and Keith, and an old warhorse in John Burke – arguable one of the hardest men in the game.

So it was not going to be easy, not least because Saints were on a dreadful seven-match losing run and before the semi they dropped skipper Geoff Pimblett and put Peter Glynn there.

But in a tight game tries from wings Les Jones and Roy Mathias, plus a Harry Pinner drop goal meant Saints held a 7-6 lead with about a minute on the clock.

Alas a loose pass on the Wakefield line allowed Topliss to dummy and dart, offloading to Smith and next thing the mop-haired Andrew Fletcher was scampering over and Saints had lost 9-7.

Quick Saints v Wakefield quiz.

1. Which current player did Saints sign from Wakefield?

2. At which ground did Wakefield beat Saints by a point in 1999?

3. Which classic 1960s film starring Richard Harris was shot at Belle Vue?

4. Prior to the Wildcats, what was Wakefield Trinity’s nickname?

5. Which Australian scored a hat-trick against Saints during a short stint at Wakefield in 1984?