Super Saints smash Robins

Gardner bags a late brace to take his side past half-century mark

Last updated: 3rd May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Super Saints smash Robins

Pryce: Inspirational display

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St Helens closed out Super League's Magic Weekend with a 54-0 hammering of hapless Hull KR at Murrayfield.

Having seen leaders Wigan win earlier on Sunday afternoon, Saints made sure they would remain in touch with their arch-rivals with an 11-try rout.

Ade Gardner was the only player to cross the line more than once, while six first-half scores meant the game was over as a contest by half-time.

Leon Pryce failed to get his name on the scoresheet but was the main tormentor of the Robins, who have now slipped out of the top eight.

Early onslaught

They were masters of their own downfall on several occasions in Scotland, starting with full-back Shaun Briscoe making a mess of Kyle Eastmond's grubber to allow Paul Wellens to open the scoring after just three minutes.

Eastmond darted in for second soon after before another defensive blunder by Hull KR, winger Peter Fox failing to deal with Pryce's up-and-under.

The loose ball was seized upon by Tom Armstong, who was playing in a makeshift three-quarter line assembled by Saints coach Mick Potter.

Paul Clough forced his way over to get his side's fourth try and a difficult afternoon for Briscoe got even worse when Chris Flannery decided to run straight over him to touch down in the 35th minute.

A fabulous step and offload from Pryce allowed James Roby to cross next to the uprights, Eastmond adding his second conversion after Jamie Foster, who had started out on kicking duties, had been forced off with a head injury.

With a 30-0 half-time lead and a Challenge Cup trip to Harlequins looming on the horizon, St Helens might have been expected to take their foot off the gas.

However any thoughts they might ease up on poor Rovers were dismissed just six minutes after the re-start.

Spiralling bomb

Wellens jumped above Briscoe to take Pryce's spiralling bomb and then offloaded to the supporting James Graham, allowing the forward to flop over to score and also leave Eastmond an easy conversion.

A superb passing move that saw the ball go through five pairs of hands set up Matty Ashurst for try number eight in the left corner.

Foster - now sporting a large bandage - went over in the same spot when he was picked out by perfectly-weighted grubber from the influential Pryce.

Rovers battled bravely to try and get off the mark but Saints refused to give in, showing their ruthlessness by running in two more tries in the final six minutes.

After waiting an eternity to get an opportunity Gardner bagged a quick-fire brace, two simple finishes on the right taking his team past the half-century mark.

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