Saints Slay Dragons

St Helens 56 Catalans Dragons 10

Zut Alors! The Rugby League Challenge Cup favourites, Saints cruised through to their 6th successive Cup semi-final with a 10-try fiesta against an outclassed French side.

Winger Ade Gardner scored a hat-trick of tries, (and lost the ball when already over the Dragons' line) and Paul Anderson scored a doubleton. Saints centre Jamie Lyon impressed with a 20 point contribution from a try and eight conversions.

Despite the score-line the Catalans had revelled in some unusual Lancashire sunshine at Knowsley Road and has taken an early 6-4 lead. Stacey-Jones responding with a converted try to Sean long's opening try.

The Catalans are a different side with Stacey Jones back from the early season broken arm. But as often happens in the modern League game, the Dragons fell apart after conceding two demoralising tries, from Anderson and Gardner, just before half-time. A setback from which they never recovered even though Saints rested Long and Sculthorpe for much of the second half. Justin Murphy got the Dragons consolation try.

Two more of the semi-finals are being televised tomorrow on BBC1, including the Rhinos v Harlequins RL. Will it be Saints v Rhinos in Tuesday's semi-final draw?

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