CUT & DRIED FOR BARBA!
Brilliant Ben marks Saints anniversary with another magic try
BOX OFFICE Ben Barba scored another sublime solo try on the first anniversary of his Saints arrival to help them move four points clear at the top.
A year to the day after he was unveiled by the club, Barba continued his rich vein of form as the leaders followed their Challenge Cup win at Castleford two weeks ago with another impressive display.
Barba (right) repeated his trick of scoring a length-of-thefield, counter-attacking try before limping off with a lower leg injury in the 57th minute.
Saints also had a sparkling display from Jonny Lomax, who is thriving in his switch to stand-off since Barba’s arrival. It proved too much for the Tigers to handle as they fell to a third comprehensive defeat of the campaign to Justin Holbrook’s side.
The home team were plagued by poor defence on their own line throughout the first half, starting in just the third minute.
Saints prop Kyle Amor barged his way over for a simple early try under the posts. And although Cas responded in kind through Mike McMeeken, they were 18 points down by the break.
Barba’s stunning individual try came in the 14th minute. When Adam Swift fumbled a high kick towards his own line and off his knee, some players hesitated – but not the St Helens full-back.
He scooped up the loose ball and immediately saw an attacking opportunity, evading Jake Trueman and Paul McShane before dancing down the right touchline for a thrilling try. Tigers winger Greg Minikin had two tries correctly disallowed by the video referee, – the first for a knock-on and the second for a foot in touch.
But in between the home side suffered more woes on their own line. Lomax was allowed to dart between Oliver Holmes and Trueman to touch down. Moments later man of the match Lomax produced a terrific flat pass for Dominique Peyroux to stroll over. It took the visitors just three minutes to extend their lead after the restart as centre Ryan Morgan exchanged passes with Adam Swift to touch down. Morgan was over again soon after following a superb stepping run from Lomax before Theo Fages finished another crisp Saints move. At 30 points behind the Tigers finally stirred, with Jy Hitchcox, Trueman and Oliver Holmes crossing before Lomax created a final try for Fages.