Saints in London blitz

Hints that Saints were on the mend came when the fuse was lit against Leeds; the touch paper was ignited with the win at Castleford, with the ultimate explosion coming with this 10-try demolition of an opposition tipped to notch their first win over Saints.

Instead, the visitors were consigned to their heaviest-ever Super League defeat, while the home side enjoyed their their most convincing majority of the season, which saw them leapfrog into fourth place over Bradford Bulls, with a 59 points credit differential -another welcome bonus.

However, it was the manner of the win, as much as the margin itself, which delighted the Knowsley Road faithful, for Saints moved the ball wide at every opportunity and tackled like troopers to restrict London to just one try - which many pundits had forecast when the injury blight lessened. But it has to said that a Broncos side lacking captain Terry Matterson and Martin Offiah were unrecognisable from the team which finished runners-up in Super League last season.

London's cause was also not helped by the second-half withdrawals of Tulsen Tollett and Robbie Beazley and, after a stern first half challenge, Broncos game degenerated into a litany of handling errors and ill-discipline.

Highly professional Saints duly meted out punishment via further seven tries, six of which came in a devastating last half-hour when their rediscovered confidence and ability to make the ball available was a joy to behold.

Hat-trick hero Anthony Sullivan took the McEwan-Lager man-of-the-match award and his centre partner Paul Newlove earned the Acorn Animal Superstore accolade, but they were hard pressed by nine-goal Sean Long, full-back Paul Atcheson and grafting forwards Chris Joynt and Brett Goldspink.

However, this was a team performance Saints who, after Broncos had held the early ascendancy, opened the scoring when Tommy Martyn's bomb was seized by Damien Smith, and the Aussie put Karle Hammond over

A five-man move then put Sullivan away with 50 yards to go, and the Welsh express rounded Toshack to score beneath the Eccleston End uprights, and further distress followed for London when Long kicked a penalty after Peter Gill fouled Julian O'Neill. Broncos stole back into the reckoning when, after Martyn had lost possession, Ian Higgins broke through for Damien Chapman to touch down and tack on the goal with 23 minutes on the clock.

Busy bee Long came away with a searing 60-yard break and, on being tackled by Toshack, Damien Smith plunged over from the play-the-ball and, although Sean could not convert, he was on target with Glen Air was penalised.

Resuming just 20-6 in arrears there was little warning of the points avalanche about to engulf Broncos, and it was restored substitute Bobbie Goulding who triggered the massacre when his chip to the corner was gobbled up by Sullivan.

Referee Connolly sought video guidance before allowing the try, but hi-tech opinion was not needed for Long's touchline conversion, and Keiron Cunningham then touched down for his first try of the season, having returned to the fray for Goulding.

Hapless London's plight became desperate when the thoroughbred Newlove raced 50 majestic yards along the best side touchline to score, with Chris Smith and Joynt having done the spadwork.

Hammond, Long and the ubiquitous Chris Smith engineered Sully's third touchdown, while the sin-binning of Grant Young, placing on report of Air, and the disallowing of a second try by Wes Cotten were other reasons why Broncos did not enjoy their latest visit to Knowsley Road pastures.

Displeasures which were no doubt compounded when soaraway Saints set the seal on a memorable performance with three tries in the last 10 minutes, as Damien Smith and Hammond completed doubles, with Joynt rounding off the scoring in rousing style.

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