Report by MIKE CRITCHLEY

SLICK Saints stormed to the Super League summit with another free-scoring display - and for the third time in four games they failed to concede a try.

Taking full advantage of a dispirited and demoralised looking Halifax side ruthless Saints rattled in 11 tries, shared among nine players to wipe out and then overtake Bradford's once mammoth points difference.

After the game visiting coach Steve Linnane said: "The form Saints are in, I don't think anyone can beat them. They are the best team in the competition at the moment and if we had played to our best they would have still put 40 points on us. They are absolutely brilliant."

Sadly for Linnane, they were to be his last words as Halifax coach and he followed in the footsteps of Warrington boss David Plange in getting the chop in the aftermath of a mauling at Knowsley Road.

The writing was on the wall as soon as loose forward Paul Sculthorpe burrowed his way over in the second minute and from there Saints were ahead of the clock for the next three-quarters of the game.

There was just no holding Saints, who found holes in the Sox defence left, right and centre with some slick passing and support play instigated by the bursts of Keiron Cunningham and the scheming of Tommy Martyn and Paul Sculthorpe.

The only sour note for the 8,611 fans was the sight of Aussie flyer Darren Albert being stretchered off after taking a knee to the back, causing a trapped nerve. Albert's departure was a real pity as he looked ready to have a field day when linking up from full back against a disintegrating defence.

On the plus side homegrown flyer John Kirkpatrick capped some good, solid performances of late with a well taken try a minute after Albert had left the field.

After the game Saints' coach Ian Millward said: "I was really pleased that we kept at it. At the back end they had a fair bit of ball to score some tries and we denied them. I think our courage and attitude was great. That first half was outstanding, I just sat back and enjoyed it and tried to pretend I was a spectator.

"I was proud that we kept them scoreless because that is a huge achievement and that was our objective in the second half. We did not set ourselves a points target because when that happens you get out of shape.

"They didn't have the ball for the first 10 minutes and by the time they got hold of it, it was all done and dusted. The entertainment value was incredible.

"I feel we have gone up another gear - and have not conceded a try in our last three home games. I haven't spoken to the players about for and against - it is not an issue. Our objective is to win our four remaining games and then at the worst we will finish second and gives us a chance to finish top."

Saints: Albert; Hoppe, Gleeson, Newlove, Kirkpatrick; Martyn, Long; Shiels, Cunningham, Nickle, Joynt, Stankevitch, Sculthorpe. Subs: Ward, Higham, Bennett, Edmondson

Halifax: Donlan; Beckett, Woods, Flowers, Halliwell; Duneman, Finn; Goldspink, Lawless, Gannon, McMenemy, Clayton, Brocklehurst. Subs: Davidson, Hobson, Netherton, Clinch

Referee: R. Smith (Castleford)