Dominant Saints make it fi ve in row

WHEN will Ben Barba tire of teasing and tormenting opposition defences with moments of individual brilliance?

The St Helens full- back was at it again last night, scoring another contender for try of the season to add to his 2018 highlights.

Barba, above, is Super League’s leading scorer and has cut a swathe through the competition, outpacing, outfoxing and ultimately outclassing all before him.

At a sun- kissed Wheldon Road, the Aussie star claimed a length- of- the- fi eld beauty in the 14th minute when he collected possession just yards from his own line.

Team- mate Adam Swift fumbled a high kick but the ball went backwards and rather

CASTLEFORD ST HELENS

fortuitously into the path of Barba.

Quick as a fl ash, Barba spotted a gap and showed outstanding speed and strength to outstrip the Tigers’ defence down the right- hand touchline before diving over to score.

The try was Barba’s 20th of the season and helped Justin Holbrook’s Super League leaders to march on to their fi fth successive league win.

Castleford should have known to keep a closer eye on Barba, just 12 days earlier the 28- year- old’s hat- trick had dumped Daryl Powell’s men out of the Challenge Cup. Barba was forced off in the second half with a minor knock last night but by then his team were already coasting to victory.

Saints led when prop Kyle Amor showed brute force to crash under the posts.

Mike McMeeken did likewise to reply for Castleford but Barba’s scintillating effort soon put the visitors in control.

Further scores from Dominque Peyroux and Jonny Lomax underlined Saints’ dominance and made it 22- 4 at the break.

Ryan Morgan grabbed a brace in the second half and Theo Fages scored Saints’ seventh try. Castleford hit back with tries for Jy Hitchcox, Jacob Trueman and Oliver Holmes before Fages’ second late on.