Saints v Huddersfield Giants

Jonny Lomax grabbed a hat-trick as Saints brushed past Huddersfield on Friday night.

Ben Barba, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Ryan Morgan also added braces in a stunning 66-4 performance.

Saints were white-hot throughout as they ran in 12 tries to bounceback from Sunday’s loss at Wakefield.

The first came as a wonderful offload from Morgan Knowles set debutant Matty Costello on his way to feed Lomax for his fifth of the season.

Danny Richardson converted and then hammered another off the touchline after Barba scored a worldie.

Taking the ball from inside his own half, the full back produced a mazy slalom run to go through the middle of the Giants and outpace the cover to score in the corner.

Saints were rampant and on the half hour mark, Lomax grabbed his second following a 30 metre barnstorming run from Luke Douglas.

Moments later and another try – this time courtesy of a flat pass from Jon Wilkin.

Captain for the night, his ball split the defence and sent LMS over to the left of the posts.

If that pass was special then the one that followed next to give Barba his second was even better.

On the last, Theo Fages went to the line, fired it left to Lomax who then instinctively sent it back inside for Ben’s second.

Geometry on a rugby field…

And just before half time LMS joined Lomax and Barba on doubles as he charged on to a sweet Fages’ pass.

Saints went in 34-0 up at half time – and within seven minutes of the second, Richardson and Barba had combined to put Ryan Morgan over.

And they repeated the feat on 53 minutes to give Morgan his second.

Jordan Turner scored against his old club on the hour mark to at least give the Giants’ fans something to cheer – although it did look like he dropped it over the line – but normal service was resumed shortly afterwards as Danny Richardson sidestepped his way to the line.

Saints weren’t done either as firstly Barba slipped the defence to send Lomax in for his hat-trick, then Matty Costello found Regan Grace in acres of space for his third of the year.

The final act of a scintillating show was left to Kyle Amor.

Matty Smith darted out of dummy half and his pass, although slightly behind the prop, was hauled in and he blasted over.

It was a stadium record score for Saints – and now all eyes are on the trip to Salford next Thursday.

Match Summary:

Saints:
Tries: Lomax (3), Barba (2), LMS (2), Morgan (2), Richardson, Grace, Amor
Goals: Richardson (9 from 12)

Giants:
Tries: Turner
Goals: Rankin (0 from 1)

Penalties Awarded:
Saints: 6
Giants: 5

HT: 34-0
FT: 66-4

REF: Scott Mikalauskas

ATT: 10,278

Teams:

Saints:
23. Ben Barba; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 30. Matty Costello, 19. Regan Grace; 1. Jonny Lomax, 18. Danny Richardson; 10. Kyle Amor, 7. Matty Smith, 16. Luke Thompson, 15. Morgan Knowles, 17. Dom Peyroux, 12. Jon Wilkin.
Subs: 6. Theo Fages, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 20. Matty Lees.

Giants:
28. Jared Simpson; 23. Darnell McIntosh, 4. Jordan Turner, 5. Aaron Murphy, 33. Innes Senior; 26. Sam Wood, 15. Jordan Rankin; 25. Corlton Roche, 9. Kruise Leeming, 18. Paul Clough, 16. Oliver Roberts, 17. Ukuma Ta’ai, 19. Daniel Smith.
Subs: 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 20. Adam Walne, 21. Adam O’Brien, 22. Alex Mellor.