St Helens moved two points clear of Bradford Bulls at the top of the Tetley's Super League with a magnificent exhibition of attacking rugby.

Great Britain star Paul Sculthorpe led the way for Saints, scoring 24 points with a try and 10 goals from 11 attempts at Knowsley Road.

But Friday night's defeat was a heavy blow for Halifax.

The Blue Sox are now in danger of being sucked into the relegation battle at the opposite end of the table.

Keiron Cunningham was also outstanding for Saints, who led 46-0 at half time.

The home side ran in 11 tries and Halifax had no answer to the pace and power of Ian Millward's men.

Former Saint Paul Davidson was sin-binned for holding down just before half-time on his return to Knowsley Road.

And Johnny Lawless was placed on report in the second half for a late challenge on Mark Edmondson.

The only blow for Saints was an injury to Darren Albert, who was carried off on a stretcher after 30 minutes with a trapped nerve in his back.

Millward revealed that the winger is doubtful for next week's game against Leeds.

And he said of his team's victory: "The game was all done and dusted in the first 10 minutes when we led 10-0.

"We've gone up another gear in recent weeks. It was an easy night for a coach."

Halifax boss Steve Linnane had no complaints about the result, saying: "Saints were far too good for us.

"They are the best team in the competition at the moment and were brilliant tonight."

Saints took just two minutes to go ahead as Sculthorpe ran in the first try.

Man-of-the-match Cunningham was next over with Saints adding further tries before the break from Albert, Sean Long, Sean Hoppe, John Stankevitch, John Kirkpatrick and Paul Newlove.

Halifax did manage to tighten their defence in the second half and conceded only three more tries through Chris Joynt, Hoppe and Newlove.

St Helens: Albert, Hoppe, Gleeson, Newlove, Kirkpatrick, Martyn, Long, Shiels, Cunningham, Nickle, Stankevitch, Joynt, Sculthorpe.
Replacements: Higham, Bennett, Edmondson, Ward.

Halifax: Donlan, Beckett, Flowers, Woods, Halliwell, Dunemann, Finn, Goldspink, Lawless, Gannon, Clayton, McMenemy, Brocklehurst.
Replacements: Clinch, Davidson, Netherton, Hobson.

Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford)