Saints in scoring spree

St Helens 46-22 Salford

Saints secured their 10th win on the trot after enjoying a second half scoring spree.

They were 12-10 down at the interval but then they turned in a typical display to run the Reds ragged and finish comfortable winners.

Salford stunned Saints by sweeping into a 17th minute lead when Aussie Jason Webber went over from Steve Blakeley's long pass.

But Saints were back on level terms when Kevin Iro, Super League's leading scorer, charged over with Sean Long adding his first goal.

Plenty of fight

Long was at the heart of most Saints' attacks and he fed half-back partner Tommy Martyn on the half-hour to make it 12-6.

But spirited Salford, with half a dozen regulars missing, showed plenty of fight with Jimmy Smith going over to stun the Saints fans just before the interval.

Saints had two tries disallowed by Anthony Sullivan and Iro before the break but could not complain at the narrow margin at the interval.

It all changed in the second half with Sullivan going over after 42 minutes and then Paul Newlove racing 80 yards for an interception try for the 100th of his career at the club.

Long added two in quick succession before Sullivan completed his brace to make it 40-10 on the hour.

But Salford, who brought on Italian international Carlo Napolitano for his debut, refused to throw in the towel with Malcolm Alker and Gary Broadbent going over with two Blakeley conversions making it 40-22.

Saints always seemed to have too much in reserve for Salford whose defence was exposed again eight minutes from time when Iro charged through and Long added his seventh goal from eight attempts.

Teams:

St Helens: Wellens, Smith, Iro, Newlove, Sullivan, Martyn, Long, Perelini, Barrow, Nickle, Joynt, Tuilagi, Sculthorpe. Replacements: Henare, O'Neill, Atcheson, Bennett.
Salford: Broadbent, Pinkney, Webber, Tassell, Littler, Blakeley, Lee, Faimalo, Alker, Southern, Smith, Highton, Wainwright. Replacements: Makin, Johnson, Napolitano, Duffy. Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (Warrington)