Powergen Challenge Cup favourites St Helens eased through to their sixth successive semi-final with a 10-try romp against their outclassed French visitors.

Two tries from man mountain Paul Anderson and a hat-trick by flying winger Ade Gardner demonstrated the power and pace of the engage Super League leaders, who became the first team to book their place in Tuesday's semi-final draw.

The Stacey Jones-inspired Catalans looked at home in the brilliant sunshine in the early stages and led 6-4 after 16 minutes to briefly threaten to pull off a shock.

But they crucially conceded two tries in four minutes before half-time and were over-run after the break as Saints cut loose, with Great Britain internationals Paul Wellens, Keiron Cunningham and Sean Long showing their class.

Centre Jamie Lyon cashed in with 20 points from a try and eight goals from 10 attempts.

Saints enjoyed all the early pressure and it needed the brave intervention of full-back Renaud Guigue to prevent hooker Cunningham grounding the ball after a typical determined burst for the line.

Gardner fluffed one try-scoring opportunity on 10 minutes, inexplicably losing the ball over the line after a superb break from Long but the in-form scrum-half made no mistake three minutes later.

The livewire Long sliced between two defenders, John Wilson and Jamal Fakir, for his seventh try of the season.

The Catalans responded when Jones jinked between Wellens and Paul Anderson to plant the ball over the line, with Lauren Frayssinous adding the conversion to edge his side in front.

But the lead lasted only seven minutes, with Gardner making up for his earlier lapse by crossing unopposed after Saints ran the ball on the last tackle.

Lyon kicked his first conversion to make it 10-6 and Leon Pryce had a try disallowed on 33 minutes for a double movement to leave the match nicely balanced.

But the home side took a firm grip when impressive front rower Paul Anderson crashed over from short range and Gardner added a fourth in the last act of the first half, finishing off a scintillating 90-metre break started by Pryce.

Anderson bulldozed his way over for his second try early in the second half and, when Wellens burst clear to send substitute Jon Wilkin over, that was the signal for coach Daniel Anderson to rest his key men.

Even with Long and Paul Sculthorpe taking well-earned breathers, Saints continued to pile on the agony for the tiring Dragons.

Pryce crossed in easy fashion and Lyon got in on the act, intercepting Jerome Guisset's pass to race over from 30 metres out.

Catalans winger Justin Murphy stopped the rot when he sprinted 90 metres for a try but Saints finished in dominant fashion, with Wilkin creating further tries for Gardner and Vinnie Anderson with astute kicks.