Saints moved two points clear at the top of the engage Superleague with an efficient 54-4 drubbing of Huddersfield Giants.

 

Weather conditions before the game reached biblical proportions - making the pitch slippery underfoot - but the Saints handled it perfectly, slaying the Giants with some expertly taken tries.

 

In a momentous week for the club, just before the game, Jon Wilkin, James Graham and Ade Gardner signed extended deals at the club.

 

The side was unchanged from the one that beat Hull KR 40-0 a fortnight ago, with KC starting instead of James Roby.

 

Huddersfield made a host of positional changes as they sought their first win at Knowsley Road since 1978.

 

Saints had the early pressure when Matty Smith kicked over for Gardner, but the winger couldn’t catch the high ball.

 

And a few minutes later Gilly made room for Talau to run the angles – and a perfect pass gave Wilkin an easy finish. Tyrer added the extras.

 

The Giants hit back through Nero who latched onto a delicately placed kick from Brad Drew. The video ref giving the nod after a long deliberation. Thorman wide with the extras.

 

On 18 minutes poor handling errors saw the ball change hands, but Pryce used the conditions perfectly to slide over second later – putting Saints ahead. Giants were penalised for striking out at the ball and one tackle later it was in Smith’s hands, then Leon’s who went over for his 14^th of the season. Tyrer easy to the left of the posts.

 

Saints were rampant. Straight from the restart, KC went on a storming run from 40 metres, taking the tackle. At dummy half Gidley worked the ball out to Wilkin and Wellens who put Talau in the corner.

 

Matty Smith then worked some magic to fire a ball to Maurie – the Samoan charging and side-stepping in under the sticks from 30 yards.

 

A minute later Smith kicked the perfect back-spinning ball – but Willie failed to ground for his second score.

 

But the Kiwi made amends a minute before the interval with a beautiful kick through for Tyrer to ground in the corner. Ste then banged it over from the touchline. Talau worked the angles perfectly – and is there a better centre in rugby league at the moment?

 

In the second half Gardner effectively ended the game after superb work by Roby and Gidley. The former Newcastle Knight fired a sublime pass under pressure to send the Cumbrian flyer in.

 

Wilkin added his second before Gilmour clocked his 37^th in Saints colours. Tyrer made it six from eight with the boot.

 

Tyrer then rounded off an excellent individual performance with some superb skill. Gardner broke through after great work from Cayless and Graham. Ade should have backed himself but threw to Tyrer who controlled it on his knee before grounding the ball.

 

Wellens then brought up the half century after a great 40:20 from Matty Smith with a minute left.

 

1. Paul Wellens; 2, Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 24. Ste Tyrer; 6. Leon Pryce, 21. Matty Smith; 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Keiron Cunningham (c), 10. Jason Cayless, 11. Lee Gilmour, 15. Mike Bennett, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 17. James Graham, 22. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

 

 

6. Chris Thorman; 1. Paul Reilly, 3. Jamahl Lolesi, 11. Chris Nero, 24 Rod Jensen; 4. Kevin Brown, 9. Brad Drew; 16. Keith Mason, 7. Robbie Paul (c),  10. John Skandalis,  14. Stuart Jones, 12. Andy Raleigh, 13. Stephen Wild.

Subs: 15. Paul Jackson, 18. Darrell Griffin, 19. Ryan Hudson, 20. Steve Snitch.