MATCH SUMMARY Wakefield: (24) 41 Tries: Domic, Jeffries 2, Wainwright, Snitch, Tadulal Goals: March 7, Handforth Drop goals: Jeffries St Helens: (6) 22 Tries: Sculthorpe, Gardner, J Roby, Talau Goals: Sculthorpe

The high-flying Saints led by an early touchdown from Paul Sculthorpe before Wakefield hit back with four converted scores in the first half at Belle Vue.

And, though the visitors chased the game in the rain, two second-half tries from the hosts sealed the win.

The points were wrapped when Jason Demetriou made a break, ending in Semi Tadulala scorching in from 40 metres.

Sculthorpe opened the scoring after three minutes, dummying through and carrying Gareth Ellis over the line with him.

But Wakefield hit back within five minutes through Sid Domic after good work from Michael Korkidas and Halpenny, and David March converted to tie the scores at 6-6.

It was one of the most satisfying performances since I've been here Shane McNally Wakefield coach

Jeffries then put the hosts ahead, starting and finishing a fine team effort.

And Wakefield stayed in front for the rest of the match thanks to Michael Wainwright and a spectacular 70-yard score from Jeffries.

Saints regrouped at half-time and hit back when Paul Wellens and Willie Talau put Adrian Gardner in at the corner for a controversial try.

Try as they might, however, they were unable to force their way back into the game.

Wakefield coach Shane McNally called his side's performance "sensational".

Losing Chris Joynt didn't help but it didn't cost us the game - I'd just sooner give a lot of positives to Wakefield Ian Millward Saints coach

"All credit to the guys, Saints started at a rate of knots but, once we got the pace of things, we dominated," he said.

"It was one of the most satisfying performances since I've been here - we've had a pretty light week only training on Wednesday and Thursday and it paid dividends."

St Helens coach Ian Millward, meanwhile, admitted to being beaten by a "better team".

"Wakefield deserved to win. They've been playing really well recently, and were more clinical than us," he said.

"Losing Chris Joynt didn't help but it didn't cost us the game. I'd just sooner give a lot of positives to Wakefield. They played really well.

Millward confirmed that forward Tim Jonkers had been allowed to join Salford on a month's loan to rebuild his fitness.

Wakefield: Halpenny, Wainwright, Demetriou, Domic, Tadulala, Ellis, Jeffries, J. Field, March, Korkidas, Solomona, Applegarth, Spicer. Replacements: Snitch, Handforth, Talipeau, Blake.

St Helens: Albert, Gardner, Gilmour, Talau, Hardman, Hooper, Wellens, Fozzard, Wilkin, Mason, Joynt, Edmondson, Sculthorpe. Replacements: Feaunati, Fa'asavalu, Graham, J. Roby.