Six tries in 17 minutes either side of half-time knocked the stuffing out of Huddersfield Giants and more than satisfied St Helens' scoring appetite at at Knowsley Road yesterday as they cemented second place in the engage Super League table.

Indiscipline blighted Huddersfield's approach - conceding 18 penalties to three and seven of St Helens's nine tries came after careless indiscretions. All but one of the seven St Helens players who helped England to defeat France in Toulouse on Friday played and, if Huddersfield hoped they might be suffering from fatigue, they were left disappointed - although as one by one they were rested, Huddersfield edged the final 25 minutes.

Defensively Huddersfield leaked like a colander. Maurie Fa'asavalu bulldozed his way over twice within ten minutes. Willie Talau also claimed a brace in the second half, and after an eight-player handle, James Roby crossed the line. Other St Helens tryscorers were Keiron Cunningham, Frances Meli, Adi Gardner and Sean Long, withthe latter kicking four goals and Paul Sculthorpe one. Tom Hemmingway, Danny Kirmond and Stuart Jones crossed for Huddersfield with Hemmingway adding two goals.