The Champions were looking to make it six from six at the start of a Superleague XX but were up against a side they'd not beaten at home in the last five attempts, and who had demolished the Rhinos unbeaten record last weekend.

Warrington were unchanged to celebrate Tony Smiths six year tenure and they arrived at Langtree Park in the knowledge that a win by thirty-four points or more would see them into top spot, above their hosts.

The stage was set for a classic.

The opening twenty minutes didn't disappoint as the sides traded chances and blows in a blood and thunder encounter.

It was Kieron Cunningham's Saints who opened the scoring after Laithwaites second effort on Masoe. Two plays in an a Wilkin short pass found Greenwood to go ten to score. Burns, in great form with the boot, kicked the extras.

Six minutes later and it was Masoe's turn to give away a penalty, this time for a shoulder charge. A quick play the ball saw Clark back himself from dummy half to go over and Ratchford kicked the two to level the score.

Saints became the dominant force for the remainder of the first half and in a three minute spell around the half hour they stretched to an 18-6 lead which they would carry into the interval. On twenty-nine Turner hacked forward twice, the second into the hands of Jon Wilkin who went over under the sticks.

Wilkin turned provider for Saints third with a long looping pass to Adam Swift to cross in the corner. Burns goaled beautifully from the touch line and the Champions were showing champion form.

Ten minutes into the second half the game was back on as Micky Higham scored a trademark try when he went from acting half back to score by the sticks, and the O'Brien goal narrowed the margin to six.

Saints looked to have sealed the win with another two tries in nine minutes. McCarthy-Scarsbrook bulldozed his way over from close after Ratchford had conceded a penalty on his own line, and just after the hour Vea made ground before providing Makinson with a try after Westwood had spilled the ball in his own half.

At 30-12 with ten minutes left it looked like Saints were going to open up a four point gap at the top of Superleague but a dogged fightback by the Wolves gave the home supporters a minor scare.

On sixty-nine Higham charged down a Saints kick and Bridge picked up the loose ball, made a break, and found Penny who juggled momentarily before going forty to score. With four minutes left Chris Hill threw an outrageous dummy to go in by the sticks and as O'Brien kicked a quick conversion the gap was back to six points.

But it was the Saints who kept their cool and took the game to the Wolves in the last couple of minutes, extending their lead by two for 32-24 win after a Burns penalty awarded for holding back.

The final close scoreline belied Saints dominance in a game which they controlled for most of the eighty. The Wolves didn't much resemble the side who thrashed the Rhinos just seven short days ago and the rest of the league must be looking up at Saints and wondering whether anyone will be able to end their unbeaten 2015 run.

Saints: Wellens, Makinson, Turner, Dawson, Swift, Burns, Wilkin, Walmsley, Hohaia, Amor, Greenwood, Vea, Thompson. Subs: Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Richards.

Wolves: Ratchford, Penny, Currie, Atkins, Russell, Bridge, O'Brien, Hill, Clark, Sims, Philbin, Laithwaite, Westwood. Subs: Higham, Asostasi, Evans, King.


Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance:12,618