Saints return to summit - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Saints return to summit

Champions St Helens marched back to the top of Super League after running in nine tries in a 48-4 thumping of shell-shocked Salford at Knowsley Road.

Mike Bennett scored two with Sean Long, Matthew Gidley, Francis Meli, Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Maurie Fa'asavalu and James Roby all crossing.

The Reds were simply blown away, but did manage a consolation late on when Andy Coley went over.

Long polished off a fine break from Leon Pryce, taking Paul Wellens' pass to slide over.

Aussie centre, Matt Gidley was next over the try-line when he finished off a five-man handling movement sparked by fine play in the middle by lanky prop Jason Cayless.

After 16 minutes, Kiwi wing Meli careered over in the corner following a fine inside ball from compatriot Willie Talau. The one-way traffic continued after 26 minutes when Wellens ended a move sparked by half-backs Long and Pryce to saunter under the sticks.

Quick hands again from five men saw Gardner take Gidley's bullet pass to cross in the corner, with Wellens adding the goal.

Saints took a 26-0 lead in at the break, and continued where they left off two minutes after the restart with big Samoan prop Fa'asavalu bustling his way over from close range to touch down.

Saints stretched their lead when unsung second-rower Bennett crashed onto Meli's fine ball to coast under the posts from 15 metres.

Young James Roby had further to run for his next touchdown when he snaffled up a loose Salford pass to race 75 metres, beating off three chasing Salford men to touch down and Bennett added another to conclude Saints' scoring before Coley's consolation.

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