St Helens claimed their 10th successive win - but they needed to come from 16-0 down to see off a spirited Blue Sox.

Saints were heading for a shock defeat after the battling Blue Sox stormed into a handsome lead after 23 minutes at The Shay.

Thanks to some tremendous defence and clinical finishing, the home side took control when Danny Halliwell scored after just five minutes.

Snapping up a loose ball after Anthony Stewart failed to take Gavin Clinch's high kick, the winger crossed over from close range.

A fortunate Colum Halpenny then touched down after Sean Penkywicz's pass bounced back off his face before Jason Flowers added a third try.

Reacting quickest after Darren Albert had fumbled another high kick, the Halifax centre Jason Flowers dived on the loose ball to take his side out to an amazing 16-0.

Saints hauled themselves back into contention with two tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Keiron Cunningham proved unstoppable on 31 minutes and substitute Sean Hoppe added a second try after Sean Long had run the ball on the last tackle.

Paul Sculthorpe kicked one of the conversions to cut the deficit to just six points at the break only for Clinch to add a second penalty early in the second half.

Saints hit back again when Martin Gleeson touched down, Sculthorpe's conversion bringing the visitors to within two points.

And they went in front for the first time on 62 minutes when Paul Wellens re-gathered Long's high kick and Peter Shiels sent Sculthorpe racing over.

Halifax never gave up and came close to scoring when lively substitute Jamie Thackray was hauled down just short of the line.

But Sculthorpe sealed Saints' victory with an injury-time drop goal.

Halifax: Donlan, Halliwell, Halpenny, Flowers, Beckett, Dunemann, Clinch, Gannon, Penkywicz, Birchall, Lawless, McMenemy, Brocklehurst. Replacements: Hobson, Thackray, Davidson, Bloem.

St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Gleeson, Newlove, Stewart, Cunningham, Long, Britt, Higham, Shiels, Joynt, Bennett, Sculthorpe. Replacements: Hoppe, Ward, Nickle, Edmondson.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).