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Saints eased into the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a comfortable 11 try win over London Skolars.

Twelve first half points from Kyle Eastmond alongside a James Roby double set the tone for a relatively easy 56-0 win.

Saints made several changes as they began their annual crusade to win and retain the Challenge Cup.

Injured Paul Wellens was replaced with Matt Gidley, whilst Chris Flannery moved into the centres with Ste Tyrer starting on the wing.

James Roby started at 6, with Kyle Eastmond becoming his half back partner. In the pack, captain Keiron Cunningham returned and Gaz Wheeler took a well-earned spot on the bench with Academy starlet Sam Thompson – both earning their first team wings as a result.

Skolars began with the same team that lost 34-24 to Swinton last week.

Saints had the early pressure when Kyle Eastmond put up a high kick to Ade Gardner then benefited from a London error. But the Skolars held firm.

Seconds later Nowland broke through but an excellent covering tackle prevented further progress.

But on seven minutes, Saints broke through when a lying on penalty under the sticks was punished with slick handling to send in Talau. Tyrer just wide with the extras.

And just three minutes later, Rasaubale was sent to the sin bin for a cynical foul on Eastmond after the Saints half back had kicked the ball.

On 12 minutes, Thorman then threw a pass out wide that was intercepted by the lurking Eastmond who flew in from 40 yards. Tyrer easy under the sticks.

Skolars were proving to be a decent match for the Saints, pressurising the attacking line and forcing the odd error from Saints.

Gaz Wheeler came on for his first team debut 25 minutes into the match, to line up with his academy partner Eastmond.

Roby then sidestepped his way to the line to increase the lead further. Tyrer hit the post from the conversion.

Saints continued their domination of the game when excellent and slick passing saw Flannery go in the corner. Credit to Roby, Wilkin and Gardner for creating the space for the former Sydney Rooster to take the ball on his fingertips and go through Aggrey.

Sam Thompson came on after 30 minutes and instantly made an impact, charging through a couple of would-be tacklers and drawing a penalty. And from the tap, good handling saw Jon Wilkin make space for Roby to notch up his second. Eastmond easy with the extras.

Eastmond then popped up over the line after great work from Clough, KC and Thompson. Kyle took his personal points total to 12 with a well taken conversion.

Skolars forced a goal line drop out with a nicely taken grubber from Thorman but the half time hooter went before the Skolars could do any damage.

Half Time: Saints 30 London Skolars 0

Wheeler thought he had scored his first try for the club within minutes of half time oranges after charging runs from Thompson and Clough, but it was ruled out for an obstruction that nobody saw.

Kyle then kicked crossfield, but it was knocked dead.

But Gary Wheeler finally got the scoreboard ticking over for the first time in the second half after some fast passing from his teammates. Meli linking up with Eastmond to send Wheeler charging in.

Meli then passed to Talau for his second. Eastmond perfect with the extras.

A sweeping move brought up Flannery’s second. Tyrer did the hard work out wide before the ball was sent back in field and gratefully accepted by Saints’ number 16.

Wilkin then made it 50 as he finished off a crisp passing move to score under pressure from two would be tacklers.

And with minutes to go, the ball was sent wide for Gardner to score the simplest of tries in the corner.

London Skolars flew up the field in the last minute, but after Aggrey broke through a couple of tackles, they failed to make the pressure pay.

Credit where credit's due though, the Skolars battled well, put on a great show and are a credit to National League 2.

After the game, Saints Head Coach Daniel Anderson paid tribute to the Skolars: “They went at us for the full 80 minutes. They were courageous and never stopped coming.

“They surprised me with their tenacity and probably got better as the game went on. Perhaps they were a little overawed in the first 20, but as they became more comfortable with their surroundings I thought they played well.”

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Talau (2), Eastmond (2), Roby (2), Flannery (2), Wheeler, Wilkin, Gardner

Goals: Tyrer (1 from 4), Eastmond (5 from 7)

Skolars:

Tries:

Goals:

Penalties:

Saints: 10

Skolars: 4

HT (Sts First): 30-0

FT (Sts First): 56-0

ATT: 3,258

REF: James Child

Teams:

Saints:

3. Matt Gidley; 2. Ade Gardner, 16. Chris Flannery, 4. Willie Talau, 22. Ste Tyrer; 14. James Roby, 24. Kyle Eastmond; 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 26. Gareth Frodsham, 21. Paul Clough, 15. Mike Bennett, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 5. Francis Meli, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 25. Gary Wheeler, 29. Sam Thompson.

London Skolars:

1. Jermaine Coleman; 2. Corey Simms, 3. Namila Davui, 4. Ash Tozer, 5. Austen Aggrey; 6. Paul Thorman (c), 7. Jamie Nowland; 8. Puna Rasaubale, 9. Chris Shears, 10. Dave Ellison, 11. Matt Thomas, 12. Dene Miller, 13. Al Barker.

Subs: 14, Gareth Honor, 15. Wayne Kerr, 16. Richard Louw, 17. Farid Goutta.

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