St Helens maintained their supremacy over Bradford by putting the Super League champions to the sword in a one-sided Powergen Challenge Cup fifth-round tie at Knowsley Road.

The Bulls had no answer to a Sean Long-inspired Saints as they crashed to a fifth successive Challenge Cup defeat to their arch rivals.

Man of the match Long teased and tormented the champions with his clever kicking but the visitors contributed to their own downfall with a shambolic display.

Saints made intelligent first use of the wind and driving rain to kill the game off with four tries before half-time and added three more after the break to clinch their place in Monday's quarter-final draw.

The runaway Super League leaders made the best possible start, with hooker Keiron Cunningham forcing his way over from acting half-back just 94 seconds into the game, although referee Karl Kirkpatrick needed the assistance of video official Ian Ollerton before awarding the try.

Jamie Lyon added the difficult conversion and increased his side's lead to 8-0 with an 11th-minute penalty awarded for a high tackle by Bulls prop Stuart Fielden.

Bradford were unable to apply sustained pressure and Saints thought they have scored again on 17 minutes after a Sean Long 40-20 kick had set up a great attacking position.

Skipper Paul Sculthorpe went over from Cunningham's pass but the decision from the video referee this time went against the home side, Ollerton ruling that the back rower lost the ball in Shontayne Hape's tackle.

The out-of-sorts Bulls could not take advantage of the let-off, however, as they yet again gifted their opponents possession deep inside their own half.

Winger Lesley Vainikolo was fortunate to avoid being sin-binned for delaying Saints' play-the-ball but the referee's decision to play on paid off when loose forward Jason Hooper made a half-break and sent full-back Paul Wellens over for a try.

Bradford ought to have pulled a score back when Paul Johnson, who was switched to the second row after beginning the game on the wing, skipped around his man but put in an aimless kick instead of using his support.

Saints then gave their visitors a lesson in finishing when winger Francis Meli broke out of his own half and sent former Bradford second rower Lee Gilmour over for a third try.

Lyon maintained his 100% record with his fourth goal to make it 20-0 but the champions were given a glimmer of hope five minutes before half-time.

Sculthorpe lost possession trying to clear his own line and prop Joe Vagana charged over after picking up the loose ball. Paul Deacon added the goal but Saints quickly restored their 20-point advantage.

Long's grubber kick caused panic in the Bradford defence and Lyon successfully hacked the ball on before claiming the vital touch.

St Helens thought they had extended their lead just 43 seconds into the second half when Long intercepted Terry Newton's pass and went on an unopposed 40-metre run to the line but he was adjudged to be offside.

It was no surprise, though, when the next try did go to the home side, who had to battle against the elements in the second half.

Danger man Lyon was brought down short of the line but the Bradford defence could not regroup in time to prevent substitute Nick Fozzard taking Sculthorpe's pass and romping over for his side's fifth try.

Cunningham proved unstoppable as he charged over for his second try and Lyon maintained his accuracy by landing his seventh goal from as many attempts before taking a breather.

Centre Willie Talau also went over but Bradford gained some consolation when full-back Michael Withers grabbed two tries in the last four minutes.

He collected Hape's kick to touch down for his first and then finished off a break by Newton, with Deacon adding both conversions.