Saints 64

Halifax 0

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 which were 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 then on in Saints were ahead of the clock for the next three-quarters of the game.

There was simply no holding Saints, who found holes in the Blue 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 which caused 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, home grown flyer John Kirkpatrick capped some good, solid performances of late with a well taken try a minute after Albert had left the field.

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

Clockwatch

2 minutes: Sculthorpe drives over and adds on the extras, 6-0.

5mins: Cunningham goes over after Sculthorpe and Albert combine. Sculthorpe goals, 12-0.

14mins: Albert races over after a fine off-load from Shiels. Sculthorpe converts, 18-0.

17mins: Martyn sends Nickle over. Sculthorpe goals, 24-0.

19mins: A converted try by Hoppe brings up the 30.

23mins: Stankevitch scores a try. Sculthorpe adds the extras, 36-0.

29mins: Albert stretchered off.

30mins: Kirkpatrick races in for a try, 40-0.

37mins: Davidson sin-binned.

39mins: A great break by Martyn finds Newlove in support. Sculthorpe goals, 46-0.

46mins: Joynt touches down. Sculthorpe converts, 52-0.

53mins: Hoppe races over from 35 metres. Sculthorpe goals, 58-0.

71mins: Edmondson sin-binned

73mins: Newlove crosses again, 64-0.