Saints ran in five tries to open up a four point gap at the top of the Betfred Super League table on Thursday - but they were made to work hard by a resilient Catalans Dragons.
Regan Grace crossed for a brace in the 26-12 victory, whilst Tommy Makinson, Jonny Lomax and Morgan Knowles also tallied tries.
Saints couldn’t match the free flowing rugby of their previous two wins but did produce some quality moments for the fans.
Jonny Lomax’s 10th minute try came from a Tommy Makinson chip and soon after provider became scorer as he took Danny Richardson’s crossfield kick.
The Dragons got themselves back into it when Brayden Williame beat Ryan Morgan to Josh Drinkwater’s kick.
But with seconds Morgan Knowles restored the advantage with a mazy run under the sticks.
Saints went into the sheds 16-4 up at half time and quickly extended their lead five minutes into the second half.
Fages took the line on at speed, linked up with Mark Percival and he sent Grace in for his third in two games.
It was a lovely move – but all that hard work was undone as from the restart, Saints overplayed, lost the ball, and Jodie Broughton went over in the corner.
Remi Casty went close on 60 minutes – and then Jon Wilkin had one chalked off for a double movement.
But Saints put the game to bed with 10 to go – and it came from another flowing move on the left hand side.
Grace notching his second after fine hands from Wilkin, Fages, Taia, Lomax and Percival.
Richardson tagged on the conversion – his third of the night before Lewis Tierney finished off a blindside move on the right to end the scoring.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Lomax, Makinson, Knowles, Grace (2)
Goals: Richardson (3 from 5)
Dragons:
Tries: Williame, Broughton, Tierney
Goals: Drinkwater (0 from 3)
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 11
Dragons: 7
HT: 16-4
FT: 26-12
REF: R Hicks
ATT: 9,138
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 19. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 16. Luke Thompson, 11. Zeb Taia, 17. Dom Peyroux, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 7. Matty Smith, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Morgan Knowles.
Dragons:
31. Tony Gigot; 2. Jodie Broughton, 16. Vincent Duport, 4. Brayden Wiliame, 20. Lewis Tierney; 6. Samisoni Langi, 33. Josh Drinkwater; 8. Remi Casty, 19. Michael McIlorum, 14. Julian Bousquet, 11. Louis Anderson, 21. Benjamin Jullien, 13. Greg Bird.
Subs: 10. Sam Moa, 17. Jason Baitieri, 23. Antoni Maria, 24. Alrix Da Costa.
RD14: Saints v Catalans
Match Gallery (Bernard Platt)
