SAINTS STORM PAST HUDDERSFIELD
St Helens 15, Huddersfield 2
GIANTS coach Nathan Brown faces a huge task to lift his jaded men after they failed to score a try for the first time in 16 months.
Saints, who scored all but one of their 15 points in the first half, have a week off before their last four match.
But Huddersfield have to go through the agony of an eliminator next weekend if they are to stay on track for the Grand Final.
Huddersfield had fancied their chances against a Saints side who had lost four of their last five games, including the Challenge Cup semi- final to last night's opponents.
But rumours of unrest in the Knowsley Road camp looked way off the mark as Saints stormed into a commanding lead.
The best defence in Super League was ripped open as early as the third minute when Saints made them pay for a mistake by Liam Fulton.
The Aussie was caught in possession as he tried to kick downfield and he then flung out a wild pass into no-man's land.
Saints forward Tony Puletua was first to react and charged 40 metres to the try line, dragging two Giants tacklers over with him for the last few metres.
Huddersfield played safety first when they won a penalty minutes later, with Brett Hodgson kicking the goal rather than running it.
Saints, on the other hand, showed far more adventure and a willingness to pass, resulting in Kyle Eastmond being held up over the line. But straight from the restart, Saints' leading scorer Leon Pryce sidestepped his way over for his 19th try of the season.
Eastmond missed the conversion attempt but his devastating pace soon had Huddersfield flapping again, with his pass sending in Francis Meli.
Eastmond again missed the conversion and finally Huddersfield started to show some fight.
But, despite dominating possession for the rest of the first half they failed to break down the resilient Saints' defence. England prop Eorl Crabtree looked like grabbing his first try to avoid the dreaded 'Naked Run' punishment, but was denied by a tackle from Paul Wellens.
If Crabtree fails to break his duck next week, his team-mates could force him to do a lap of the Galpharm Stadium - without his clothes.
Crabtree thought he'd overcome his disappointment by helping to set up Stephen Wild - only to see the second row drop the ball with the line at his mercy.
It was a tale of woe that continued in the second half, although they had a let-off when Saints winger Ade Gardner knocked on as he dived at a high Sean Long kick to the corner.
England full-back Wellens came up with another try saver to stop Fulton and the Saints defence continued to hold firm.
Long's 72nd minute drop goal - the first score in 51 minutes - sealed the win for Saints.
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