A BEAMING smile went across young Cumbrian prop Greg Richards’ face on Sunday when he crossed the line.

It was a farewell to end of season forfeits with the Barrovian front rower getting his 21st birthday present a week early after scoring his first try in 60 outings.

One of the highlights of Saints’ display generally was the impact made by the front row, with Richards and Kyle Amor and Alex Walmsley all going well.

Cunningham said: “Greg’s displays are what we have needed. Sometimes with the young players you do take a few steps back and then you have to bring them a few forward.

“Joe Greenwood has been a little guilty of that too – he was outstanding in the early round, had a bit of a stumble and is now finding his feet again. Greg has been the same.

“The more faith you show in those kids you get the best out of them.

“It is really hard to be a young prop because you are not reaching your peak in that position until you are 25/26.

“It has been tough for boys like Tommo and Greg – winning a Grand Final in 2014 so young. When you get things early it is a case of where do we go from here?

“All credit to them, they have knuckled down and been through some tough spots as groups and been good ones too.

“Greg is making it hard for me not to pick him because he is doing lots of good things for the team.

“He took his try well – he is unexpectedly quicker than some of the other forwards.

“Once he broke that first tackle, having not scored for 59 games, you could see the desire in his eyes to get over the whitewash. He doesn’t want to do another naked run!”