Rush praise for Saints’ inner strength after Catalan victory (From St Helens Star)

Rush praise for Saints’ inner strength after Catalan victory

4:54pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in Latest News By Mike Critchley

SAINTS coach Mike Rush took plenty of positives from the character his team showed in Perpignan – in particular their defensive resolve and their determination to come up with vital plays.

Starved of ball early doors, Saints hung in there to come home with the spoils. The win sees Saints climb above the Dragons on points difference. Rush said: “We only had one set in the first eight.

They kept getting the ball back but we defended really well and did so throughout the game.

“To keep at team at home, in France, with players of the calibre of Dureau, Pryce and Menzies on the field to two tries we did really well.

“We are grinding out some wins – whether that is a win at Widnes with one minute 30 to go or defending your line for the last 20 minutes at Catalan.

“We are finding that inner strength and that mentality that we are a team of winners at the minute.

“It is the biggest one so far – the travel, the hostile environment because the French don’t mind telling you.

“You get caught up in the emotion, but it was our best victory of this little run of the minute.”

Although Saints were dealt a tough call with Tony Puletua’s dismissal, they did get a slice of luck when Damien Cardace had a try disallowed. But for the rest of it they made their own luck.

“There was courage, guts and determination. Tommy Makinson’s ankle tap when their player was through with a clear line, was tremendous. And then you had Andrew Dixon chasing back twice on clean breaks.

“They are elements of the game that if you are not there and your heads not on it and your heart is not in it then you don’t make those extra efforts.

“We have a team of blokes at the minute that is making extra effort.

“Maybe we got our slice of luck with the decision at the end with the disallowed try.

“Some people in our camp said we would be annoyed if we had scored and not been awarded it. “Others felt Tommy Makinson had been clearly pushed. It depends how you see it,” Rush said.