Widnes destroyed by Swift's hat-trick on his home debut

St Helens 62 Widnes 0

St Helens made it two victories in a week over neighbours Widnes with a comprehensive 11-try show last night. Saints romped into a 26-0 interval lead to put the game to bed and then ran riot in the second half to ensure the Vikings stay bottom of Super League.

Teenager Adam Swift, on his home debut, bagged a hat-trick and Anthony Laffranchi scored two tries for St Helens who had James Roby in dazzling form. Saints, who survived a late rally to pip Widnes 40-38 in the Carnegie Challenge Cup last week, brought in Carl Forster for only his second appearance in place of Josh Perry.

Widnes made a nervy start with two early handling mistakes and Saints almost went ahead from a Jonny Lomax kick before Shaun Magennis just failed to touch down.

The Vikings managed to hold out for 11 minutes before Roby, Lomax and Paul Wellens combined for Sia Soliola to force his way over to open up a 6-0 lead. Skipper Wellens took an inside pass from Lance Hohaia with Roby again involved in the build-up to add a second try three minutes later.

Roby's pass from dummy half sent Laffranchi crashing over from short range midway through the first half to extend the advantage to 16-0.

Widnes were on the back foot from the start and it was Roby again who was the provider for Laffranchi's second try from an identical move.

The Vikings attack was as sloppy as their defence and Swift took Michael Shenton's pass for his first try for the club just before the break.

It did not get any easier for Widnes early in the second half when Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook outjumped the defence to collect Hohaia's kick and stretch the lead to 32-0. Sub Andrew Dixon brushed off Mellor to power over for his fifth try of the season. Shenton added the Saints' seventh try courtesy of a smart back pass by Chris Flannery before Mark Flanagan touched down from Roby's grubber kick. Swift then grabbed his second try with the youngster completing his hat-trick seven minutes from time.

St Helens: Wellens, Swift, Shenton, J. Jones, Meli, Hohaia, Lomax, Laffranchi, Roby, Magennis, Flannery, Soliola, Flanagan.

Subs used: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Clough, Dixon, Forster.

Widnes: Phelps, Flynn, Marsh, Isa, Ah Van, Craven, Mellor, Cross, Clarke, Pickersgill, Haggerty, Winterstein, Cahill. Subs used: White, Allen, Leuluai, Mullally.

Referee: T Roby(RFL).

* Hooker Shaun Lunt was among the try scorers on his Leeds debut as the champions thwarted Catalan Dragons' bid to go joint-top, winning 34-18.