Warrington Wolves 12 Saints 35 TIPPED as a cliff-hanger, this eagerly-awaited clash proved to be a romp for awesome Saints as they completely overshadowed the Wolves.

Six sparkling tries from the visitors' finely-tuned attacking machine, with a similar goal tally from Sean Long, found a Warrington side who had played in midweek facing a whitewash until the closing stages, when the Wolves at last bared their teeth to score two consolation touchdowns.

Limpet-like tackling on such a scale after the near-catastrophe against Wakefield was sweet music indeed to coach Ellery Hanley and Saints' travelling army of fans, and left a game but outclassed Warrington still looking for a first Super League victory against Saints.

A tremendous team performance without doubt, but one that also yielded a host of individual heroics, notably from captain Chris Joynt, Keiron Cunningham and Long, while teenage star of the future Paul Wellens maintained his rich promise.

Saints took an early lead with a penalty by Long after Mark Hilton was caught offside but the Wolves, with Lee Briers' kicking game to the fore, then gave as good as they got in the opening 15 minutes.

Mike Wainwright had a try disallowed by the video referee in this period, while disaster struck for Saints when Iro departed nursing thigh damage and on came Steve Hall, who promptly scored the opening try after being put through by Long and Sculthorpe.

'Scully' then fouled Jonathan Roper and one began to sense it was Saints' day when Briers missed the easy kick, and there were further grounds for optimism when, after Freddie Tuilagi blasted down the right, Chris Smith ran across the face of the Wolves defence to send Joynt over.

Long added the conversion to put Saints 12-0 to the good, a lead they clung onto until half-time thanks to relentless defensive commitment, with try-saving tackles by Atcheson on Mark Foster, Long and Nickle on Roper, and Wellens on Toa Kohe-Love particularly memorable.

Full-back 'Patch' again distinguished himself on the restart, this time in halting an Ian Knott in full cry for the line, as did Sonny and Sean in causing dummy half Danny Farrar to lose possession in the act of touching down.

And, as is often the case, it was Saints who celebrated their lucky escape via an epic killer-punch try from Cunningham, who broke from acting half-back 45 yards out and hoodwinked Lee Penny, who could only stand and stare as the fleet-footed hooker scored another six-pointer. Long added a snap drop goal, and by now slick-handling Saints were simply toying with woebegone Wolves, as highlighted by will-o'-the-wisp Wellens, who adroitly sidestepped Briers to push Saints' advantage to 23-0 after 55 minutes.

Joynt then carved out a touchdown for Sullivan, and Sculthorpe did likewise for Long, who converted both tries, and Warrington's embarrassment would have been greater but for a forward pass ruling when Vila Matautia sent Smith into the clear.

Vila found himself on report after a tackle on Danny Nutley, while Atcheson rescued Saints yet again with a brilliant tackle on Penny, but weary Wolves salvaged some pride with last-gast tries by Chris Causey and Wainwright, with Roper converting both.

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