PICTURED: Another mercurial try from Alan Hunte

A HIGHLY-SATISFACTORY result after our first real taste of summer rugby. That was the view of Saints' boss Shaun McRae as he reflected on the victory over Sheffield Eagles in the pioneering trip to Cardiff RFC.

WHITTLE: Like the curate's egg - good in parts. That was the overall media opinion of Saints' performance at the Arms Park. Would you go along with that?

McRAE: Not entirely, because I believe that a Saints' team lacking half-a-dozen regulars were always in control and did well to end a three-match losing away run against the Eagles, admittedly this time on a neutral ground.

Yes, we did drop a lot of ball and missed several one-to-one tackles, but not as often as Sheffield and I would ask armchair critics to remember that it was very hot out there, which is something English players will have to acclimatise themselves to.

Such conditions in a game which is now played at a fantastic pace obviously increase fatigue levels, while the 10-metre law, quicker play-the-ball and other restarts of play have all contrived to make defence even harder work.

The bottom line is that Saints are still on top after an 11th successive Super League victory, and that against an Eagles line-up desperate for the points to stay in top-four contention.

As a general principle I do not usually comment on individual performances, but it would be remiss of me not to say that I was well pleased with the showing of stand-in scrum-half John McAtee, who was back in the squad for the first time in two years. The same can be said of Alan Hunte (PICTURED HERE), Anthony Sullivan, Karle Hammond, Keiron Cunningham and Chris Joynt, but this was essentially a fine team performance and proved a good experience for 17-year-old Alan Cross, even though it was only from the bench.

WHITTLE: Given that it has all been tried before do you believe there is a future for Rugby League in South Wales?

McRAE: Certainly,in the light of what happened on Saturday when more than 6,000 fans turned up despite televised counter attractions such as Test cricket, Wales v Australia at Rugby Union and the England versus Switzerland soccer match. A goodly number of these spectators were Welsh and proved that there was a captive audience for a venture which would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

WHITTLE: Don't you think it speaks volumes for Saints' supporters when, despite the 350-mile round trip and double travel cost, more than 1,000 trekked to Cardiff?

McRAE: I was immediately struck by their enthusiasm on arriving in January, and both Paul Newlove and Derek McVey have said that they had never experienced anything quite like it, not just after Wembley but week in - week out. Believe me such tremendous support is really appreciated, a point which is emphasised regularly by skipper Bobbie Goulding.

WHITTLE: Wigan's loss of a point to London Broncos must be a great boost to Saints' championship chances, and we could go five points clear if victorious at Central Park next week. What was your reaction to Sunday's shock result?

McRAE: Let me say first of all that I am more concerned about what Saints do than any other side, but yes I would agree that the Broncos' well-earned draw gives us just a little more breathing space. However, I refuse to get carried away because if Wigan defeat Saints then there is just one point in it, and both clubs have yet to travel to London and Bradford. It's interesting to say the least! WHITTLE: Quite a number of fans thought that Jonathan Neill would get a recall at Cardiff with Andy Leathem and Derek McVey ruled out. What is the situation with the long-serving Cumbrian prop?

McRAE: Jonathan has returned to the fold after sorting out his contractual difficulties and has been playing well in the Alliance side. Both he and Adam Fogerty had good games in last week's reserve game against Hull KR and it was quite a headache deciding who to pick at Cardiff. But I stress that any Saints player is regarded as available for senior selection, and that includes loyal servant Jonathan Neill.

WHITTLE: Two more fully-fledged internationals at Knowsley Road in Steve Prescott and Danny Arnold - surely a time for rejoicing and a vindication of Saints' 'catch 'em young' policy don't you think?

McRAE: Absolutely! And there can be no denying that both Steve and Danny earned their selection for England against at Gateshead last night after consistently good performances in the first half of the Super League season. No doubt Danny was hoping to come off the bench in a bid to repeat his 32-point display when the Academy squads of both countries clashed at Carcassone last week!

WHITTLE: The estimated injury figure is that no fewer than nine players are under treatment. Can you speculate on their return?

McRAE: Andy Northey (groin) and Bobbie Goulding (shoulder) should be fit this weekend, but Apollo Perelini may rest his troublesome knee. Scott Gibbs (shoulder) may play at Wigan, but Derek McVey (knee), Joey Hayes (hamstring), Dean Busby (knee), Tommy Martyn (stomach muscles) and Andy Leathem (virus) will all be missing until the end of the month.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.