Saints back with a bang

St Helens returned to form in emphatic fashion, scoring 10 tries in a 58-12 romp against Harlequins.

Leon Pryce helped himself to a hat-trick for Daniel Anderson's side, who came good after losing four of their last five Super League matches.

However, there was further bad news for Paul Sculthorpe, whose injury curse struck again as he was forced off after 53 minutes at Knowsley Road.

Saints scored five of their tries in the first half, with Sean Long, Francis Meli and James Roby adding to two scores from Pryce.

Paul Wellens, Pryce, Matt Gidley and Ade Gardner (2) all struck after the break to take Saints' tally into double figures.

Injury worry

Sculthorpe - making his 250th appearance for St Helens - was replaced 13 minutes into the second half after appearing to strain his groin.

That was the only negative for Saints coach Anderson, who saw Long land nine goals from 10 attempts and dovetail superbly throughout alongside Pryce.

The manner in which Anderson's men swept Harlequins aside made the pain of last week's miserable 30-24 defeat at struggling Castleford seem like a distant memory.

That Saints have faltered badly in recent weeks is undeniable, but they rarely looked in trouble against Brian McDermott's team.

Harlequins arrived on Merseyside in fifth spot but fell behind inside the fifth minute when Long started and finished off a flowing move which saw the ball pass through five pairs of hands and culminated in him taking Meli's short pass to cross the line.

Six minutes later, Saints had their second as slick handling from Roby and Long combined to send Pryce over from close range.

Saints were dominant and it came as no surprise when Meli darted over from acting half in the left corner with 20 minutes played.

Long converted superbly from close to the touchline but was afforded a far easier shot at goal five minutes later after Roby went over from just wide of the post after some delightful footwork from Pryce.

Harlequins enjoyed a briefest purple patch on the half hour mark which harvested a try for Gareth Haggerty, who collected a Danny Orr offload and advanced over the line at pace, and Rob Purdham added the extras.

Instant response

Saints responded in kind, though, and a brilliant individual effort saw Pryce claim his second six minutes before the break.

Long could not convert this time and three minutes later Quins notched their second try when Matt Gafa finished off a flowing move and Purdham again added the extras.

Harlequins threatened again after the restart but their pressure came to nothing and in the 53rd minute Jon Wilkin fed the onrushing Wellens from the base of a scrum as Saints claimed their sixth score.

Long added the extras to claim his fifth goal from six attempts but the familiar sight of Sculthorpe limping off injured materialised again two minutes later.

The former Great Britain skipper - ravaged by injuries in recent seasons - went off holding his groin.

However, Gardner went over in the right corner shortly after the hour mark to claim Saints' seventh score and Pryce completed his hat-trick before Gidley sauntered clear and Gardner added a late 10th.

Long ended the night with an impressive tally of nine goals from 10 attempts as Saints were left celebrating their biggest win of the season.