St Helens 34 Hull KR 16: Welham double fails to halt Saints as Hull KR stumble

Fellow prop Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook claimed his first two Saints scores while Sia Soliola, Paul Wellens and five-goal Jamie Foster also touched down in a one-sided encounter at the Stobart Stadium.

In-form Kris Welham grabbed another two tries for Rovers to take his tally for the season to eight but it was another dismal outing for the injury-hit Robins.

Justin Morgan’s men have now lost six of their last seven and star signing Willie Mason, who left the field a subdued figure shortly before the hour, again failed to shine.

Saints carved open the Rovers’ defence with alarming ease as they powered to a 24-6 interval lead.

With Bath-bound scrum-half Kyle Eastmond again banished to the Under-20s, Saints coach Royce Simmons continued with youngsters Lee Gaskell and Jonny Lomax in the half-back slots.

The pair acquitted themselves well but it was hooker James Roby who dictated the pace of most of Saints’ play with another dynamic performance.

Roby provided the kind of direction that Rovers are clearly lacking in the continued absence of key trio Michael Dobson, Clint Newton and Mick Vella.

Rovers did claim the first try of the night in the 10th minute but even by then they were fortunate not to be 12-0 down as Saints squandered two glorious opportunities via Tony Puletua and Roby.

Roby made amends, sending Soliola over before McCarthy-Scarsbrook, fresh off the bench, scored twice, his first try since moving from Harlequins, and Wellens went over.

The night got worse for Hull KR as full-back Shaun Briscoe limped off after colliding with Chris Flannery leaping for a high ball and landing awkwardly.

Rovers started the second half brightly but were denied a try when Craig Hall knocked on close to the line with a score looking likely.

Saints increased their visitors’ woe as Roby sparked another incisive move which ended with Foster taking Gary Wheeler’s pass to touch down.

Foster failed to convert for the first time all evening but got another opportunity, and succeeded, after Graham marked his landmark appearance with a close-range try.

Rovers at least finished with a flourish as Webster found his way over out wide and Welham slid in to claim his second in the last minute.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Wheeler, Foster, Gaskell, Lomax, Perry, Roby, Graham, Flannery, Soliola, Puletua. Substitutes: Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ashurst, Makinson.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Hall, Welham, Webster, Green, Murrell, Clinton, Hodgson, Watts, Mason, Galea, Netherton. Substitutes: Lovegrove, Fisher, Latus, Taylor.

Referee: B Taylor (Wakefield).