Saints steamroller Tigers

Meli: Two tries

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St Helens celebrated receiving the green light to build their new stadium with a 68-12 demolition of basement boys Castleford Tigers at Knowlsey Road.

The in-form hosts were in sparkling form as they registered a 14th straight victory and put their opponents to the sword with a scintillating first-half display which saw them head in at the interval 46-0 ahead.

Matt Gidley, Sean Long, Lee Gilmour, Ade Gardner, Paul Clough, Chris Flannery, Jon Wilkin and Francis Meli all crossed before the break, with James Roby and Paul Sculthorpe (2) and Meli adding further scores after the restart.

Castleford did restore a little pride with scores of their own from Kirk Dixon and Michael Shenton, but were simply outclassed on the night as they slumped to their 16th defeat of the campaign.

Having climbed to the top of the Super League on points difference courtesy of their 54-0 thumping of Harlequins last week, Saints never looked likely to surrender their position as they flew out of the traps, moving ahead as early as the second minute when Gidley powered over after some feeble defending from the visitors.

Having got their noses in front Saints began to move through the gears with the Tigers unable to match them in any department.

Long added the second try after seven minutes following a fine pass from prop Bryn Hargreaves and Gilmour then took advantage of some more weak defence from Cas as he weaved his way to line and over.

Gardner put in his contender for try of the season as he raced fully 80 metres for a fabulous individual score before Clough and Flannery both came from the bench to get their names on the scoresheet.

There was still time for Wilkin and Meli to power over from close range as Saints sent their shell-shocked rivals scurrying for the refuge of the dressing rooms with their tails between their legs.

The hosts picked up where they had left off after the break as Roby cruised over for a clinical try, but the Tigers finally got on the scoreboard after 50 minutes as Donlan's offload sent in Dixon down the right flank.

They added a second as Shenton crossed, but Saints, despite taking their foot off the accelerator, remained in complete control and responded with a brace from Sculthorpe.

It was left to Meli to have the final word as he helped himself to his second of the contest to wrap up a superb evening's work.