Saints returned to winning ways with a comfortable 28-6 win over Leigh Centurions.

They ran in five tries to overturn an early deficit and rise to sixth in Super League in the process.

Mark Percival and Theo Fages scored in the first half before Ryan Morgan, Regan Grace and Alex Walmsley eased them to victory.

Saints also had two more efforts chalked off.

Leigh got off to the best possible start when Jamie Acton ploughed through the middle to dot down under the posts after just seven minutes.

There was a clear knock on in the build up but that mattered not as Ben Reynolds duly converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.

The Centurions came again, following an error from Grace, and almost profited in the corner.

But their last tackle option kick was just too strong.

Saints hit back on the quarter game mark when they forced a mistake.

Leigh lost the ball around 40 metres out and Saints, through Tommy Lee, worked the short side for Mark Percival to dance over.

Saints then went ahead with a piece of brilliance.

Taia kept the ball alive on the left hand side, found Percy who somehow offloaded to Theo Fages to dive over in the corner.

Percival making it 12-6 with another kick from the touchline.

Saints could have gone further ahead but a one on one strip stopped a certain Percival try as he galloped in from the left hand side.

And it took a desperate tackle from LMS to save a try right on the stroke of half time too.

A scrappy opening to the second half sprung into life when LMS collected a loose ball in his side’s own 20. He went fully 50 metres before finding Adam Swift who put down under pressure.

But the referee ruled he was held up – baffling the West Terrace.

Saints were undeterred though and on their next set a fine offload from Walker saw space open up and Ryan Morgan backed himself.

Alex Walmsley looked like he’d put down on 56 minutes but as with Swift, the referee was having none of it … baffling the West Terrace once again.

But third time lucky came along as Fages hit Grace with a cut out pass for the gamebreaker.

Saints were on the front foot and their fifth try came via Wamlsley.

Dominique Peyroux made the break and the big prop finished if off by crashing under the posts.

Leigh became desperate as the game ended – tensions boiling over with Adam Walker and Eloi Pelissier heading to the bin for a scrap.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Percival, Fages, Morgan, Grace, Walmsley

Goals: Percival (4 from 5)

Centurions:

Tries: Acton

Goals: Reynolds (1 from 1)

Penalties Awarded:

Saints: 8

Centurions: 8

HT: 12-6

FT: 28-6

REF: G Hewer

ATT: 10,268

Teams:

Saints:

2. Tommy Makinson; 5. Adam Swift, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 28. Regan Grace; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 8. Alex Walmsley, 17. Tommy Lee, 14. Luke Douglas, 36. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 16. Luke Thompson.

Subs: 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Adam Walker, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles.

Centurions:

19. Ryan Hampshire; 2. Adam Higson, 5. Matty Dawson, 3. Ben Crooks, 30. Curtis Naughton; 20. Ben Reynolds, 7. Josh Drinkwater; 24. Jamie Acton, 21. Liam Hood, 10. Dayne Weston, 17. Atelea Vea, 12. Glenn Stewart, 13. Harrison Hansen.

Subs: 14. Eloi Pelissier, 15. Danny Tickle, 23. Sam Hopkins, 29. Lachlan Burr.

Saints Line up

2 Tommy Makinson
18 Adam Swift
Ryan Morgan
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
7 Theo Fages
7 Matty Smith
8 Alex Walmsley
14 Luke Douglas
11 Zeb Taia
12 Jon Wilkin
14 Luke Douglas
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
15 Adam Walker
12 Dominique Peyroux
13 Morgan Knowles

Leigh Centurions Line up

1Ryan Hampshire
2Adam Higson
3Matty Dawson
4Ben Crooks
5Curtis Naughton
6Ben Reynolds
7Josh Drinkwater
8Jamie Acton
9Liam Hood
10Dayne Weston
11Atelea Vea
12Glenn Stewart
13Harrison Hansen
14Eloi Pelissier
15Danny Tickle
16Sam Hopkins
17Lachlan Burr

Last updated 18 May 17 14:35:00

79'
Yellow Card
Eloi Pelissier for Leigh Centurions
79'
Yellow Card
Adam Walker for Saints
78'

Leigh held up and then knock on over the line.

77'

Saints fail to get it dead after they are given a penalty.

75'

Show and go from Theo – Saints on the attack.

70'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints
70'
Try
Alex Walmsley for Saints

No stopping him on a charge! Walmsley under the dot. Great break from Peyroux sets it up.

69'

Leigh overplay with the ball at Saints line. Give Saints D credit though.

67'

Good kick from Smith, Leigh have to come out of their own 20.

64'

Theo hit high – penalty to Saints.

57'

Saints penalised as Leigh knock on.

56'

Alex Walmsley the latest one to put down – but not given!

55'

Leigh called for a forward pass. Saints turning the screw.

51'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints
50'
Try
Ryan Morgan for Saints

Ryan Morgan backs himself and goes in.

48'

Louie collects loose ball in Leigh’s 20 goes 70 metres, finds Swift and he puts down but the ref says he is held up!

46'

Penalty to Leigh.

45'

Great break from Percival – brings the ball into the middle but fails to find a player. Saints last tackle option easily taken.

45'

Pressure on the catcher stops Leigh having any sort of chance on the last.

43'

Another error on the last for Saints on half way.

42'

Saints chance their arm on the left – Skill gets Saints space but Ryan Morgan can’t find a gap.

40'

Saints get us underway

40'
HT

Error right at the death sees Saints lose the ball – but what a fantastic covering tackle from LMS.

39'

Regan clears his lines superbly… fans chanting his name

39'

Smith goes for a 40:20 but puts it out on the full. Just.

38'

Leigh coming again

37'

Smith kicks Leigh right onto their goal-line. Great game management.

36'

Lovely high take in his in-goal area from Grace. Will give him loads of confidence that.

35'

Penalty for Leigh.

32'

Drinkwater drills it along the floor to turn Saints on their heels.

31'

Fabulous stuff from Percy as he comes in from the left hand side – Leigh snaffle it one on one to stop a certain try.

30'

Another high shot on a Saint… another penalty.

27'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints
27'
Try
Theo Fages for Saints

Tremendous stuff! Saints on the far side keep it alive, Taia finds Percy and somehow he gets it to Theo!

24'

Saints back in this one now – bending their backs in defence. Leigh look dangerous in broken play.

23'

Penalty to Saints after Grace is taken high.

23'

Penalty to Saints after Grace is taken high.

21'

Penalty to Leigh as Saints fail to play the ball correctly.

21'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints
20'
Try
Mark Percival for Saints

Great hands from Saints on the far side. Lee involved, quick and over to Percival.

20'

Leigh knock on, following a knock on, that was missed.

18'

Superb take from Percy in his in goal area – goes 45 metres and wins a penalty. Classy stuff

16'

Leigh make a couple of subs due to injury – Saints defending well at present. To be fair, it’s all they have had to do.

15'

But they come up with another error.

15'

Makinson takes the high ball this time.

14'

Another error from Saints in possession.

13'

Wayward kick from Leigh on the last – let off for Saints.

12'

Saints penalised after that knock on.

12'

Grace loses another high ball – Leigh on the attack again.

10'

Saints attack – but they lose the ball. Not at the races today.

10'

Penalty to Saints

9'

Time for Saints to come away with the ball.

8'
Goal
Ben Reynolds for Leigh Centurions
8'
Try
Jamie Acton for Leigh Centurions

Acton scores for Leigh – ball knocked on in tackle previous

5'

Grace knocks on from a high kick to the corner – more Leigh pressure.

4'

Big defence from Leigh forces Saints to make no more than about 10 metres. Fages clears.

2'

High kick from Smith, easy take… Saints then pinged for offside.

1'

Good defensive set from Saints, coming away from their own 20.

1'

Kick from Fages, Leigh coming out of their 20.

0'
Kick Off

Leigh get this one underway