It what was essentially a play-off for the play-offs St Helens welcomed the Catalans Dragons to Langtree Park for an encounter which would either see the Saints pull four points clear in fourth spot, or put the Catalans back on level terms with five rounds left.

Saints are unbeaten in their last six, their last loss coming on the road at tonight's opponents, the Catalans Dragons. The Dragons managed a win last week to halt a six game losing streak which stretched all the way back to that win over the Saints in early June. The Dragons were also victors when the two last met in St Helens.

The rest of the season was on the line for both clubs.

On six minutes, and just two after Todd Carney had gone close, Adam Swift lost the ball on his own twenty and four tackles later Dave Taylor crashed over off an Eloi Pelissier pass to score by the left upright. Lucas Albert kicked the extra two points for a terrific start for the visitors.

Nineteen minutes in and Saints opened their account after absorbing considerable Dragons pressure. A great break by Mark Percival off a Jordan Turner pass saw him go thirty metres to the Dragons twenty before finding Adam Swift to go down the wing and stretch for the line. Percival missed the conversion attempt to leave his side two adrift.

Saints were in front on twenty-four when a long ball from Luke Walsh found Percival who again fed his winger Swift on the overlap to go over in the same corner. Walsh took on the conversion and put it between the uprights from the touchline.

On thirty-one Luke Walsh was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Lucas Albert when he lifted his legs and dropped him on his shoulders.

On thirty-four, and three tackles for a penalty against Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook for very late tackle on Gigot, Paul Aiton found Jason Baitieri who bounded off the post to drop over the line. Albert added the extras to put his side back on into the lead at 12-10.

As the half-time hooter sounded the Saints regained the lead with Swifts hat-trick try when he collected a Turner try ten from the Dragons line and came inside the last tackler to dive over. Jack Owens kicked from the touchline for a 16-12 lead in what was turning into a cracking match.

A forty-fifth minute penalty from Walsh edged Saints a converted try ahead at 18-12 and three minutes late more Dragons ill-discipline gifted Walsh with another two points as the home side pile don the pressure.

The second half had been all Saints and on fifty-one Swift grabbed his fourth of the night after a miss-out pass again saw him fly in at the corner. Walsh again converted and with the Dragons showing no go-forward aptitude in the second half they now needed to score three times.

On the hour mark Walsh added a one-pointer for 27-12.

With three players sidelined for the rest of the match the Dragons threw themselves a lifeline when Dave Taylor flung a pass to Vincent Duport to score in the corner. Albert missed the conversion attempt from the touchline for 27-16.

Nine minutes from time and the game was won by the Saints when Jack Owens grounded a pinpoint Walsh kick as it bounced into goal. Walsh added the extras for 33-16.

Joe Greenwood scored on seventy-five when the second-rower pushed through a crowd of Dragons defenders to score. Walsh added his sixth conversion of the evening for 39-16.

Whilst far from a classic Saints performance, this was a workmanlike effort with plenty of defensive effort ad once they got on a roll in the second half they blitzed a tired looking Dragons side. saints are now four points ahead of fifth placed Catalans Dragons and it will take something extraordinary for any of the chasing pack to be able to break into the top four of Hull FC, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens for a semi-final place.

Saints: Lomax, Owens (T, G), Peyroux, Percival, Swift (4T), Turner, Walsh (5G, DG, SB), Richards, Roby, Walmsley, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood (T), Wilkin. Subs: Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.

Dragons: Gigot, Broughton, Garcia, Duport (T), Yaha, Carney, Albert (2G), Taylor (T), Pelissier, Casty, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri (T). Subs: Anderson, Aiton, Bosquet, Mounis.

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: