SAINTS coach Justin Holbrook has praised his side’s gutsy defence after they came away from Belle Vue with two more league points.

They had looked well in control in the early stages of the game, but Trinity – with the kicking game of Jacob Miller and Danny Brough to the fore, piled pressure on the Saints.

That it did not crack more often was down to Saints defensive resolve, and they came off the ropes to go up the other end to grab the match winning score through Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Afterward Holbrook said: "It was a really tough game as we expected. We did a great job at the start of the game and handled it really well but to Wakefield's credit they fought their way back and kept coming up with things.

"In the second half we defended our line outstandingly, for four or five sets and that is what won us the game in the end.

“We were good enough to get up the other end and get a try.

“I am really happy to win today against a good opposition who we always knew would be hard to beat.

“To get the win here is brilliant."

With the scores tied at 18-18 Lachlan Coote missed one stab at drop goal, so when Saints piled forward again two minutes from time, they went for the whitewash instead.

“I thought with how windy it was, we had more chance of scoring than putting the one-pointer over.

“I was happy the boys kept playing.”

Wakefield were the only team to beat Saints away last year, and Holbrook recognised how tough a place it is to play.

“It is always a hard place to come. The minute you think you are in control something happens and it flips on its head and we are camped on our own tryline for 10 minutes,” he said.

“You never discount Wakefield, even when you feel you are in control.

“In the end, to the players’ credit we kept working and came up with a good win in the end.

“They had us under some real pressure. The defensive we came up with for four or five sets was probably the difference.”

Once again he expressed his view that Saints, despite winning their opening two games, will get better as the year progresses.

He explained: “We worked really hard pre-season and I was confident we could start well, but with a newer side with a lot of newer players felt as a team we will get better this year.

“To come up with two good wins at the start of the year – I’m happy.”