FOUR tries in ten second half minutes fired Saints to their fourth win of the season.
Alex Walmsley, Sia Soliola, Adam Swift and Tommy Makinson all crossed in a deadly burst to condemn Hull KR to a 38-18 defeat after the scores were tied at the break.
Up until the 20 minute mark there was only one side in the contest.
Saints’ left hand side combo of Lance Hohaia, Gary Wheeler, Adam Swift and Jonny Lomax tore the opposition apart and created two long distance tries.
It should have been more though – and that was punished when Hull KR got right back into it from Kevin Larroyer’s hard work.
The visitors bombed another chance too but didn’t with two minutes left; Greg Eden taking a great Ben Cockayne pass.
But no doubt buoyed by a half time rocket, Saints simply overwhelmed their opponents to go top of the table.
They went back in front early in the second half thanks to Alex Walmsley and Adam Swift before Sia Soliola grabbed an opportunistic score.
And it truly was game over and ‘four from four’ when Swift caught a high ball and found the excellent Jon Wilkin in support.
All the talk pre-game was about Mose Masoe getting his first run out at Langtree Park.
The big man came on at the end of both halves and put in a couple of solid stints – but the match was more than 20 stone of Samoan as the first half proved.
An early error from Saints led to sustained pressure from the Robins which the home side defended as the ball went left.
The mistake repeated itself in the fifth minute but a loose pass on KR’s first tackle was snaffled by Gary Wheeler for Adam Swift to polish off.
Walsh nailed the extras and then Saints almost scored again – a fine kick to the corner just being bounced by Tommy Makinson.
Saints were ripping Hull KR to shreds from within their own 40 and another foray around ten minutes in was quelled by some desperate defence.
Seconds later though Saints were in again.
Swift continued his tear up on the left, broke free, passed inside to Jonny Lomax who dummied and scorched in.
Walsh sailing it over from the touchline to make it 12-0.
And on 15 minutes it should have been more as the left hand side combination of Lance Hohaia and Adam Swift broke free only for Wheeler to knock on.
Hull quenched Saints’ flow of points as we entered the half way point but the home side were unlucky not to go further in front when Hohaia’s score was chalked off following great play from James Roby.
The visitors had one wiped off of their own but did cross through Larroyer with ten minutes remaining in the half.
They’d had a leg up from the referee with a penalty in midfield, but Saints looked loose in defence.
And a minute later they should have drawn level, breaking through a big hole in the middle of the field. But they overcomplicated and the chance was gone.
Just as the half time hooter was warming up though Greg Eden took a great Ben Cockayne pass and the resultant conversion made it all square.
Saints started the second half just how they wouldn’t have wanted to – with an error giving the visitors prime field position.
They defended it well and then put in a good chase to get the Robins on the back foot.
It worked too as on 47 minutes a strong run from Jonny Lomax was finished off by Alex Walmsley.
Saints forced a drop out four minutes later and after a couple solid drives, Wilkin fed a scampering Lomax who saw Swift over for his second.
And the turnaround was complete when Ben Cockayne dropped a high Walsh kick to the corner and Soliola swept up.
Saints fourth try in ten minutes came via Tommy Makinson as he outpaced the chasing defenders from Walsh’s kick.
The scoring was stifled for a few moments but on 68 minutes Walsh chipped to the corner, it was caught in midair by Swift who passed it like a rocket to Jon Wilkin.
Josh Hodgson scored a bizarre consolation as he caught Saints napping with a quick tap and then Travis Burns was sinbinned for a professional foul on Wilkin.
Saints couldn’t take advantage and a try from Paul Wellens was cruelly wiped off for obstruction at the death.
One that would have handed him his 1000th point.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Swift (2), Lomax, Walmsley, Soliola, Makinson, Wilkin
Goals: Walsh (5 from 7)
Hull KR:
Tries: Larroyer, Eden
Goals: Burns (3 from 3)
Penalties:
Saints: 3
Hull KR: 4
HT: 12-12
FT: 38-18
REF: Tim Roby
ATT: 11,818
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Jordan Turner, 24. Gary Wheeler, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Luke Walsh; 18. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 16. Kyle Amor, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Willie Manu, 4. Josh Jones.
Subs: 8. Mose Masoe, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 11. Sia Soliola, 17. Paul Wellens.
Hull KR:
1. Greg Eden; 2. Ben Cockayne, 3. Kris Welham, 18. Liam Salter, 19. Craig Hall; 6. Travis Burns, 7. Kris Keating; 8. Justin Poore, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Michael Weyman, 11. Kevin Larroyer, 13. Jamie Langley, 15. Graeme Horne.
Subs: 14. Adam Walker, 20. Jordan Cox, 22. Rhys Lovegrove, 23. James Green.
