Saints 52

Halifax Blue Sox 20 REBORN Saints hit the half-century mark for the first time this season with this brilliant performance - but paid a heavy price in a sometimes bad-tempered clash.

For, in earning a fourth successive win, they lost Paul Sculthorpe, Tommy Martyn and Vila Matautia through injury, which left coach Ian Millward singularly unimpressed with the Halifax strong-arm tactics.

"They came to slow Saints down, and the referee was not firm enough, in particular when Sculthorpe was flattened in an off-the-ball incident by Jim Gannon," said the forthright Australian. "The Halifax prop was sin-binned and placed on report, although he had already been warned twice before. I'd be interested to learn what their player-coach Gary Mercer said - he was at the scene of the crime!"

Blue Sox officials were apologetic later for their team's over-exuberant approach, but the upshot is Saints could lack 'Scully' against Wigan tomorrow with a badly-bruised thigh, while Vila has broken his arm and Tommy faces a late check on knee damage.

Unsavoury incidents apart, this was another glorious display of open rugby studded by nine tries from third-placed Saints, who were triggered in the main by incisive midfield trio Keiron Cunningham, Martyn and Sean Long.

Keiron took the Jack Robinson Antiques man-of-the-match award with yet another sterling 80-minutes, but the Great Britain hooker was fulsome in praise of his team-mates after a super show on a day tailor-made for all that is best in the handling code.

The forgotten man just a few weeks ago, two-try Tommy had a hand (or a foot!) in three others before limping off, while Sean landed eight goals and - for good measure - scored Saints' opening try. However, if one could risk a gripe, it would be the four tries conceded. Cunningham and Kevin Iro set up Long's touchdown within three minutes, and after Sean Hoppe (who had his best game for Saints) and Sullivan were stopped on the left, Long and Paul Wellens sent Iro cantering over on the opposite flank.

Saints were rocked back on their heels when first Andy Duneman chipped through and regathered to put Darryl Cardiss between the uprights with Martin Pearson converting, and Halifax then drew level 10-10 when Duneman and Mercer sent Pearson over on 14 minutes.

Long's penalty when Martyn was obstructed restored Saints' lead; Tommy then used Anthony Sullivan as a foil to dummy his way across the Blue Sox line; followed it up by creating a try for Cunningham; and then hoisted a 'bomb' which the soaring Wellens turned into another six-pointer. Trailing 30-10 on the restart, Halifax still struggled to contain a rampant Saints, as that man Martyn crossed for his second try following a break by Apollo Perelini, and the Western Samoan quickly returned the compliment to the stand-off.

With substitute John Stankevitch sin-binned for ball-stealing, Halifax hit back via a second try from the speedy Cardiss with Pearson converting but, despite losing the stricken Sculthorpe, Saints sealed the issue when Cunningham burrowed his way over.

Pearson scored a late try for Blue Sox as Saints' substitute Bryan Henare traded punches with Jamie Bloem, but the high-flying Knowsley Road squad hit the half-century mark when Long's chip-through was seized upon by Steve Hall.