St Helens moved to the engage Super League summit following an emphatic nine-try victory over a struggling Salford side.

Saints scrum-half Sean Long grabbed his first try of the season to start the ball rolling, and it was one-way traffic from then on in.

Long polished off a fine break from Leon Pryce, taking Paul Wellens' pass to slide over.

The scrum-half tagged on the extras, but failed to find his kicking range with his next two attempts, and later handed over the duty to Wellens.

Aussie centre, Matt Gidley was next over the try-line when he finished off a five-man handling movement sparked by fine play in the middle by lanky prop Jason Cayless.

After 16 minutes, Kiwi wing Francis Meli careered over in the corner following a fine inside ball from compatriot Willie Talau. The one-way traffic continued after 26 minutes when Wellens ended a move sparked by half-backs Long and Pryce to saunter under the sticks. Long tagged on the extras to make it 20-0.

Quick hands again from five men saw Ade Gardner take Gidley's bullet pass to cross in the corner, with Wellens adding the goal.

Saints took a 26-0 lead in at the break, and continued where they left off two minutes after the restart with big Samoan prop Maurie Fa'asavalu bustling his way over from close range to touch down, with Wellens again adding the extras.

Great Britain full-back Wellens earned the man of the match award with his strong counter-attacking from deep.

Saints stretched their lead on after minutes when unsung second-rower Mike Bennett crashed onto Meli's fine ball to coast under the posts from 15 metres.

Young James Roby had further to run for his next touchdown when he snaffled up a loose Salford pass to race 75 metres, beating off three chasing Salford men to touch down.

Bennett added another to conclude Saints' scoring for the afternoon. Salford had the last word when prop Andy Coley gathered his own kick to touch down in the corner to grab a consolation.