St Helens (20) 50
Tries: Pryce, Dean, Cunningham, Wilkin, Long, Lomax, Eastmond (2), Clough Goals: Long (3), Eastmond (4)

Castleford (6) 10
Tries: Ferres, Dixon Goals: Dixon

St Helens demolished Castleford in a nine-try win to take them five points clear at the top of the Super League.

Brett Ferres scored the opener for the Tigers, but Saints hit back with four quick tries with Leon Pryce dummying over the line to start the spree.

Sean Long's trickery set up Chris Dean, while Keiron Cunningham and Jon Wilkin scored to set up an easy second half.

Kirk Dixon pulled one back before Long, Jonny Lomax, Paul Clough and a double from Kyle Eastmond sealed the victory.

It was a sparkling performance from Long, in his first home game since announcing his end-of-season move to Hull, as his side saw off Castleford, two months after their 68-22 hammering at home.

606: DEBATE What do you make of the easy win by the Saints?

It was the Tigers who looked the more dangerous at the start and they grabbed the lead when Rangi Chase found Ferres who split open the defence to score within five minutes.

Price began the scoring rout with his 16th of the season and then a fine run by Long set up Dean to score a third.

Cunningham piled over from close range before Long carved out an opening for Wilkin ahead of the interval.

Dixon gave the visitors some hope with a score but Long took advantage of a loose pass to run away and grab another.

Eastmond secured another try for the Saints, substitute Paul Clough got the next before Lee Gilmour burst through to send Eastmond over for his second of the night.

The highly talented teenager Eastmond then took his goal tally to four from four attempts and finish the game with 16 points.

St Helens coach Mick Potter:
"Lomax is proving a handful for the opposition. He's got a good future in front of him."

"It's pleasing to get 50 points and score some real good tries. I thought we were maybe unlucky not to get a couple more."

Castleford coach Terry Matterson:
"We were beaten by a very good team. At the moment, they are the best in the competition.

"We are pretty wounded at the moment but I don't think that's the reason we lost. We started both halves really well but you need an even share of possession to be in the game against Saints.

"We've just got to dust ourselves off because there are plenty of games left."

St Helens: Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Dean, Meli, Pryce, Long, Puletua, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Wilkin, Flannery, Gilmour.

Replacements: Clough, Eastmond, Fa'asavalu, Ashurst.

Castleford: Owen, Wainwright, Ferres, Dixon, Ford, Chase, McGoldrick, Higgins, Netherton, Huby, Widders, Jones, Faumuina.

Replacements: Sargent, Clayton, Feather, Thompson.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham)

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