Saints ended their Super 8s campaign with a comfortable 26-0 win over Castleford.
Ben Barba scored a brace whilst Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees also crossed as Justin Holbrook’s men warmed up for next week’s semi-final with Warrington.
A sterner test that will obviously be, but Saints will head into it full of confidence after ending the league season on a high.
Saints were in front after only eight minutes – and it was a lead they never looked like losing.
Matty Costello danced in from the left to set up the space for Matty Lees to charge on to a short ball for this first try in the Red V.
Saints then defended back to back sets before Barba caught a high ball and set Tommy Makinson away down the centre of the field.
The winger did well too; running through one before he was tackled by Joe Wardle. Saints were in a great position but the Cas man wouldn’t let him play the ball and was sinbinned.
A man to the good, Saints made their visitors pay – and it was Morgan Knowles who bagged his fifth of the season.
He took a pass in midfield, stepped his defender and then rounded the full back.
Saints were looking dangerous on every attack and it was no surprise when they got the better of Castleford once again before the half time hooter.
Regan Grace took Costello’s pass to go down the left – and duly turned it inside for Barba to clock has 30th of the season.
Richardson tagged on a penalty three minutes into the second half before Barba notched another try two minutes later – twisting and turning to put down with three defenders on him.
Saints went close through LMS and Fages on the hour mark before Justin Holbrook started to rest his big guns with one eye on next week’s big game.
Barba and James Roby both came off early, leaving the likes of Costello, James Bentley and Jack Ashworth to enjoy more game time – and backstop Saints to their 28th win of the season.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Lees, Knowles, Barba (2)
Goals: Richardson (5 from 5)
Tigers:
Tries:
Goals:
Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 8
Tigers: 6
HT: 18-0
FT: 26-0
REF: Scott Mikalauskas
ATT: 9,813
Teams:
Saints:
23. Ben Barba; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 30. Matty Costello, 19. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 9. James Roby, 20. Matty Lees, 11. Zeb Taia, 17. Dom Peyroux, 15. Morgan Knowles.
Subs: 14. Luke Douglas, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 21. Jack Ashworth, 24. James Bentley.
Tigers:
36. Peter Mataíutia; 2. Greg Minikin, 3. Jake Webster, 1. Ben Roberts, 26. James Clare; 21. Jake Trueman, 7. Luke Gale; 32. Liam Watts, 9. Paul McShane, 10. Grant Millington, 16. Joe Wardle, 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 14. Nathan Massey.
Subs: 13. Adam Milner, 23. Mitch Clark, 25. Will Maher, 34. Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e.
S7: Saints v Castleford
Match Gallery (Bernard Platt)
