Super League: St Helens 44-4 Wakefield Wildcats

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Highlights of the Super League clash between St Helens and Wakefield Wildcats

St Helens ran in eight tries to romp to their biggest win of the season and pile more agony on Wakefield, who fell to a 44-4 defeat in Super League on Friday night.

It was a horror start for Wildcats' temporary coach Stuart Dickens, who was thrown into the hot seat after Brian Smith's shock resignation in midweek.

Saints eased to a 30-0 lead at the break with Joe Greenwood starting the rout with two tries in the first nine minutes.

Wakefield struggled in the wake of Brian Smith's shock departure

Tommy Makinson and James Roby also scored two tries each, with Jon Wilkin and Matty Dawson crossing as well.

Luke Walsh was influential at scrum half, setting up several tries, and also kicking six goals from eight attempts in the match that saw Saints defend their seven-year unbeaten home record against Wakefield.

The Wildcats fell behind after just three minutes when Greenwood touched down for his first try of the season, with Walsh tagging on the conversion.

James Roby scored two tries in the 44-4 rout

But play was then held up for eight minutes when Saints lost Adam Swift, who was carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury.

Replacement Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook made an immediate impression by pulling off a superb tackle on Reece Lyne, who looked set to race clear.

Greenwood notched his second try after neat play by Wilkin and Walsh to open up a 12-0 lead.

Saints were finding it all too easy to split the Wildcats defence, with Walsh and Shannon McDonnell combining for Wilkin to stroll over the try line unopposed after 17 minutes to make it 18-0.

Saints had no problem defending a seven-year unbeaten home record against Wakefield

McCarthy-Scarsbrook had a try disallowed before Roby exposed more poor defence to burrow over, with Walsh's fourth conversion stretching the advantage to 24-0.

Makinson slid over for the fifth try, with Wakefield looking a demoralised outfit, Walsh showing no mercy by booting the touchline conversion to add to the Wildcats' troubles.

Craig Hall saved a try for Wakefield with a timely interception from an Atelea Vea pass and the visitors broke clear for Ben Jones-Bishop to cross in the corner.

Greenwood returned from a spell on the bench to combine with Makinson to set up Roby's second try after 54 minutes to make it 36-4.

Wilkin made the most of a gaping hole in the Wildcats defence to take the score to 18-0

Tom Johnstone was forced into a desperate clearance as Saints piled on the pressure and it was no surprise when Makinson went in at the corner for his second try.

Walsh missed his first conversion but 40-4 was a fair reflection of the night's proceedings.

It was damage limitation for Wakefield, who then conceded an eighth try to Dawson after adventurous handling.

Makinson should have completed a hat-trick but fumbled a kick with the line open in the closing minutes.