Saints power past Toulouse

St Helens sailed into the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a 56-16 thrashing of Toulouse on Saturday night.

The Icelandic volcanic cloud meant the French side were forced to endure a 24-hour coach and ferry trip in order to make the Challenge Cup fourth-round clash.

And they were determined to make it a worthwhile journey, delivering a spirited display in the first half that initially shocked their English rivals.

Early lead

The visitors took the lead in their first set, with centre Vincent Duport touching down and Nathan Wynn adding the conversion.

Saints replied on six minutes when Chris Dean, fed by a long pass from Kyle Eastmond, stormed over the line.

Eastmond surprisingly failed to add the extras, but he helped put the hosts in front soon after, making a half break before passing to Chris Flannery, who evaded a flimsy tackle to cross over.

The conversion attempt went wide, but Saints pulled further ahead in the 25th minute with a Gary Wheeler try, which debutant Jamie Foster converted to make it 14-6.

However, some creative play from Toulouse four minutes later allowed Carlos Mendes Varela to collect a Duport kick and post an unconverted try.

The back and forth continued on 32 minutes as substitute Maurie Fa'asavalu seized Eastmond's inside ball and shrugged off four defenders for another try.

Flannery then added the score that dampened the French side's hopes two minutes before the break, with Foster adding the goals to make it 26-10 to Saints going into half-time.

James Roby maintained the momentum for Saints after the restart with a wide pass to Ade Gardner, who went over.

The try of the match then followed as Eastmond burst up the middle before sending Andrew Dixon over between the uprights.

Half-century

Leon Pryce set up the next one for Tony Puletua, before the rampant Fa'asavalu stormed over for his second of the match, to bring about the half century as the French side began to fade.

Wheeler seized his second and Saints' 10th try before Foster completed an impressive night with the boot as he nailed his eighth conversion in as many attempts.

Toulouse grabbed a late try when Martin Mitchell charged over for a converted score, but it was no more than a consolation as Saints celebrated their decisive win.