First win in three for Saints

Foster: Scored twice for St Helens on Friday

St Helens beat Crusaders 28-12 on Friday to score their first win in three Super League matches and leave their opponents bottom of the table.

The Welsh side would have moved above Wakefield had they scored a shock win but that never seemed likely just as soon as Jamie Foster had scored Saints' first try after only 32 seconds.

Foster finished with 16 points from a brace of tries and four goals from five attempts and yet Iestyn Harris's side put in a determined effort that belied their league placing.

Saints were buoyed by the return of five key players including half-backs Lee Gaskell and Jonny Lomax, who both got on the scoresheet.

Also back on the bench after injury were Kyle Eastmond, Josh Perry and Andrew Dixon, although Leon Pryce, Tony Puletua, Chris Flannery, Scott Moore and Paul Clough remained absent.

Meanwhile, Lincoln Withers failed a late fitness check for Crusaders but Jason Chan was back in the centre to replace injured Gareth Thomas.

Otherwise Crusaders kept the squad which beat Wakefield 23-10 in their last match a fortnight ago.

At fault

Stuart Reardon was at fault in the build up to Foster's opening score, having allowed his kick-off to bounce with Sol Soliola snapping up the loose ball.

Reardon then failed to prevent Foster touching down in the corner after some quick handling gave the winger only a sniff of a chance.

Gaskell then came close, only for outstanding defence from Frank Winterstein and Rhys Hanbury to prevent a try and after they held up the stand-off over the line.

Saints brought on Eastmond after 17 minutes to replace Ade Gardner who damaged his knee trying to collect a high Michael Witt kick, with Gaskell switching to the wing.

Tempers then became frayed with Perry and Ben Flower trading punches. Saints were penalised, although referee Ben Thaler let both players off with a warning.

Crusaders' defence was again to the fore when Paul Wellens was held up over the line, while Saints had to work hard themselves to keep their own line intact against lively sub Jarrod Sammut.

Foster went over for his second try from Francis Meli's pass just before the break before converting to give his side a 10-0 half-time lead.

Saints made further progress almost immediately at the start of the second half when Jon Wilkin crossed and Foster added the extras.

Slim hopes

Crusaders' increasingly slim hopes disappeared altogether after 49 minutes when Lomax eluded them for a fine solo try to extend the advantage to 22-0.

Sammut did finally cross to break Saints' resistance, with Clint Schifcofske converting to maintain his record of scoring in the last 26 matches - a run stretching back almost two years.

An electrifying break from Sammut then almost brought another try but Soliola was on hand to pull off a good tackle.

Gaskell scored eight minutes from time made the score 28-6 before Lloyd White scored the Crusaders' second, with Schifcofske again converting.