Saints’ stars let rip on route 66

BEN BARBA set up a three-way tie at the top of Super League’s try scoring charts as St Helens demolished hapless Huddersfield.

Brilliant Barba joined team-mate Mark Percivial and Hull FC’s Fetuli Talanoa on 12 tries as Saints inflicted a sixth defeat in seven games on their visitors.

But the Australian ace, who also supplied the final pass for four more of his team’s 12 tries, wasn’t the only stand-out star.

England ace Jonny Lomax bagged a hat-trick while half-back partner Danny Richardson helped himself to 22 points.

Huddersfield’s defeat was their ninth loss in 12 games and the fifth under the charge of caretaker boss Chris Thorman.

They only just avoided an embarrassing whitewash with a try midway through the second half from ex-Saint, Jordan Turner.

Substitute Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and centre Ryan Morgan each crossed twice as Saints’ ran amok.

Victory for Justin Holbrook’s side also protected their two-point lead at the top above second-placed Wigan.

Giants arrived missing nine front-line players but held out for 13 minutes against a Saints side who handed a debut to Percival’s 20-year-old stand-in Matty Costello.

It was Costello’s pass that Lomax finished off to begin the rout. Barba’s first try four minutes later was a 60 metres stunner.

Richardson converted both to take him to 50 goals for the season and increase his lead as the competition’s top points scorer. Saints led 34-0 at the break and already had the points in the bag.

The points kept coming after the break with Morgan notching a brace inside five minutes.

Exciting half-back Richardson also touched down as Saints ran riot late on with four tries in the closing 12 minutes.

Lomax completed his treble while winger Regan Grace and prop Kyle Amor also joined in the rout.