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Eastmond grabbed a brace in a superb display.

BREATHTAKING attacking play saw Saints overwhelm Castleford Tigers 50-10 to remain top of Super League.

Mick Potter’s men were simply clinical in their opposition’s half and ran up nine tries on their way to another win.

The home side weathered an early Castleford scare to race to a 20-6 half time lead.

Brett Ferres touched down after just five minutes, but tries from Leon Pryce, Chris Dean, Keiron Cunningham and Jon Wilkin put them in the strongest possible position at the interval.

And it was no more than they deserved after some scintillating scores – Dean’s in particular a real gem.

In the second half, more Castleford pressure brought points, but Saints were never going to let this one go.

Rampant attacking play saw the excellent Jonny Lomax and Kyle Eastmond score, before further scores from Paul Clough and Eastmond sealed a deserved victory.

Saints went into the match missing two pivotal players - James Graham and James Roby - whilst Ade Gardner was not quite ready to return from a shoulder injury.

Gary Wheeler and Jake Emmitt both played in the reserves’ 58-6 win over the Tigers so that meant a call up for Chris Dean in the centres and Tony Puletua moved up the pack to the front row alongside Bryn Hargreaves.

Joe Westerman and Ryan Shenton were also in France with England, forcing Castleford’s head coach Terry Matterson into several changes and a debut on the bench for young Jordan Thompson.

Jonny Lomax was called into action as early as the third minute to deal with a tricky looking bomb that he defused with ease.

But Castleford won the ball back within a couple of tackles and began to put some pressure on the Saints’ line. Richard Owen jinked through then, after some more excellent handling skills, Brett Ferres opened the away side’s account. Kirk Dixon with the conversion.

Leon Pryce then pinged the Tigers back with a cute looking kick but moments later Wellens was called on to make a copybook tackle to quell a certain try.

Perhaps it was the kick the Saints needed as within minutes they were level. Sean Long the architect he used the space well to set up Pryce for his 16^th of the season. Long converting with ease.

From the restart Saints were on fire. Bryn Hargreaves held off several would be tacklers before sending a nice looking ball to a flying Lee Gilmour.

Gilly weaved in and out before finding Long who then found Chris Dean to put Saints ahead. A superb 70 yard move. Long hitting the post with the conversion.

Moments later, Chris Flannery was adjudged to have knocked on over the line and then Dean was called for a forward pass when Meli went over.

But Saints were back in Castleford territory as quickly as they left – Long kicking an excellent 40:20 on 22 minutes to gain field position.

And therefore it was no surprise when from dummy half Cunningham hit the line running and bounced over for his fourth of 2009. Long hitting the post once more with the conversion.

Jon Wilkin bounced off a couple of tackles to bring up Saints’ fourth try and put them totally in control of the match. Long with his second two-pointer of the day.

Fa’asavalu and Eastmond came on for Puletua and Cunningham respectively with 10 minutes to go.

Half Time: Saints 20 Castleford 6

From the restart Saints almost scored when Wilkin and Fa’asavalu combined to nearly go the full length of the field.

But Castleford made them pay when Dixon out-jumped Meli to touch down.

Seconds later they tried the same trick in the opposite corner, but Sean Long was more than equal to the task.

And on 53 minutes, the superb Long stretched Saints lead further when he finished off a fine move under the posts, and then added his third conversion of the game.

Paul Clough nearly scored seconds later but was just held up short and when the ball was moved right from the tackle, Lomax added his second in as many games.

Eastmond off the touchline with the conversion.

And seconds later man-of-the-match Lomax was scampering down the wing and feeding Eastmond for yet another try – Kyle converting his own try.

Cloughie added a bullocking score of his own late on, then Gilmour fed Eastmond as Saints hit 50 points and continued their winning streak.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Pryce, Dean, Cunningham, Wilkin, Long, Lomax, Eastmond (2), Clough

Goals: Long (2 from 4), Eastmond (4 from 4)

Castleford:

Tries: Ferres, Dixon

Goals: Dixon (1 from 1)

Penalties:

Saints: 9

Castleford: 8

HT (Sts First): 20-6

FT (Sts First): 50-10

REF: Ian Smith

ATT: 9680

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 30. Jonny Lomax, 3. Matt Gidley, 19. Chris Dean, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 16. Tony Puletua, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 11. Lee Gilmour.

Subs: 17. Paul Clough, 18. Kyle Eastmond, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 28. Matty Ashurst.

Castleford:

1. Richard Owen; 5. Michael Wainwright, 11. Brett Ferres, 2. Kirk Dixon, 20. James Ford; 6. Rangi Chase, 23. Ryan McGoldrick; 15. Liam Higgins, 19. Kirk Netherton, 10. Craig Huby, 14. Stuart Jones, 21. Sione Faumuina.

Subs: 8. Mitchell Sargent, 12. Ryan Clayton, 16. Chris Feather, 26. Jordan Thompson.

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