Saints struggle past Quins

St Helens got back to winning ways in the engage Super League with an unconvincing 32-18 triumph over Harlequins.

Mick Potter's side went into the contest at the GPW Recruitment Stadium off the back of successive defeats to Leeds and rock-bottom Catalans Dragons.

However a brace of touchdowns from Francis Meli and Paul Wellens, as well as a try from Shaun Magennis on his full debut, made sure Saints put an end to their mini slump.

The results cements them in third spot and with arch-rivals Wigan losing on Friday night, they are still just about the race for the minor premiership.

Pryce boost

Boosted by the return of influential stand-off Leon Pryce from a back problem, the home side needed just six minutes to break the deadlock on Sunday.

Scott Moore's pass set up a special moment for Magennis, who had been sidelined for more than a year with a serious knee problem and whose only previous senior appearance was as a substitute at Hull in June.

However Quins fought back and went ahead when a try from Jason Golden was successfully converted by Danny Orr.

Orr and Luke Gale were causing Saints problems but the visitors could do nothing to stop Paul Clough's charging burst, leading to Meli going over in the corner for his first of the afternoon.

Tony Clubb stopped a certain try with a tackle on James Roby but his good work was undone when Jamie O'Callaghan failed to deal with Moore's kick - Wellens accepting the gift to help open up a cushion.

Jonny Lomax added the conversion and was also on target with the extras when winger Meli went over again, making it 20-6 at the interval.

Hope

Quins, already without a number of first-teamers, lost Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook with a leg injury but simply refused to cave in, giving themselves a glimmer of hope when they scored two converted tries.

Orr's long pass put winger O'Callaghan over in the corner for the first before Ryan Esders scored from short range to close the gap to 20-18.

That was as close as they managed to get, though, Chris Dean pouncing on a loose ball to sprint 35 metres to the line.

Saints made sure of the two points five minutes from the final hooter when Pryce's pass sent the supporting Wellens scampering over to complete his double. Lomax added his fourth conversion to complete the scoring.