Jonny Lomax produced one of his finest performances in the red vee to lead Saints to a 40-18 win over Castleford.
He scored one and laid on several others as Justin Holbrook’s men stretched their advantage at the top of the Betfred Super League.
Ryan Morgan and Theo Fages both scored braces in the victory whilst Ben Barba pulled off another length of the field masterpiece.
But this was a 1 to 17 effort, with big displays from the pack too.
Saints led 22-4 after dominating the first half.
They scored on their first set through Kyle Amor and then took control after Mike McMeeken replied.
A sensational length of the field move had already seen Regan Grace halted in the far corner before Barba repeated his feat of the last meeting between the two sides.
Adam Swift knocked back a high ball, Barba picked it up and went the distance.
To be fair, this one was a little more spectacular than his Cup effort – the full back scooting around several defenders on his way to his 20th of the season.
Cas had one chalked off for a knock-on on 22 minutes before both Adam Swift and Dom Peyroux went close as Saints pressed.
It was a warning the Tigers didn’t heed though as once they’d given a penalty away for stepping off the mark, a lovely move saw Lomax ghost through.
And it got better as moments later Dom Peyroux stretched the advantage following a sweet pass from Lomax.
Saints were in command but it took an important tackle from Mark Percival on Greg Minikin to keep the line intact as the half came to a close.
Saints led by 18 at half time and within a couple of minutes of the second it was a 22 point game; Ryan Morgan continuing his rich try-scoring form as he exchanged passes with Adam Swift.
The centre then poached his second following a mazy run from Jonny Lomax – Theo Fages adding another from Regan Grace’s pass.
Cas hit back with three quick tries from Jy Hitchcox, Jake Trueman and Oliver Holmes but the flow was stemmed by another Lomax inspired try.
This time he dipped through the defence to send Fages in for his second – and the away fans home happy.
Match Summary:
Tigers:
Tries: McMeeken, Hitchcox, Trueman, Holmes,
Goals: Ellis (1 from 4)
Saints:
Tries: Amor, Barba, Lomax, Peyroux, Morgan (2), Fages (2)
Goals: Richardson (4 from 8)
Penalties Awarded:
Tigers: 5
Saints: 5
HT: 4-22
FT: 18-40
REF: C Kendall
ATT: 6,969
Teams:
Tigers:
4. Michael Shenton; 2. Greg Minikin, 17. Alex Foster, 1. Ben Roberts, 24. Jy Hitchcox; 6. Jamie Ellis, 21. Jake Trueman; 32. Liam Watts, 9. Paul McShane, 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 11. Oliver Holmes, 12. Mike McMeeken, 13. Adam Milner.
Subs: 8. Junior Moors, 10. Grant Millington, 14. Nathan Massey, 18. Matt Cook.
Saints:
23. Ben Barba; 5. Adam Swift, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 19. Regan Grace; 1. Jonny Lomax, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 6. Theo Fages, 14. Luke Douglas 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Morgan Knowles.
RD16: Castleford v Saints
Match Action (Bernard Platt)
