SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham was delighted with the performance of "outstanding" Dougie Charnock, who marked his first senior appearance since April 2013 by scoring two tries in a 44-4 win over Wakefield Trinity.

Although they scored nine tries, they could have had more, and they certainly moved the ball at every opportunity.

Cunningham said: "We played some good stuff. At times it was almost Saints of old when me and Sean used to play.

"We chucked the ball around and scored some scintillating tries and so I was really pleased with the way we attacked.

"I'd like to think with 10,001 here to play Wakefield that the fans think we entertain them.

"We owed ourselves a solid performance and we got that. In the first half our defence was a little staggered but the response in the second was very good."

In the absence of James Roby, Charnock started the game at nine, and was spelled by Mark Flanagan.

And the 20-year-old took charge at dummy half, admittedly off the back of a very dominant Saints pack. 

Trinity found it difficult to cope with the physicality of Masoe, Walmsley and Amor whuch allowed the rest of the team the space to make hay.

Cunningham added: "I thought Dougie Charnock was outstanding. We have gone through a difficult period and James Roby is a precious player to the club - we have to try and maintain his fitness for large periods of the season.

"I wouldn't say bringing Dougie in was a calculated gamble - he has been playing well for Rochdale but not at hooker.

"I have done a lot of work with him at nine and he is definitely a project that is paying off. He got two tries and produced a good solid performance.

"Shannon McDonnell looked good too. He made some good combinations with Luke Walsh, Travis Burns and Jon Wilkin. We have a lot of scope to move forward. He only landed yesterday and said he was good to go. Defensively he was outstanding.

"But it was the pack that led us around tonight. Walshy and Burns can play off the back of them and I was pleased with the whole performance tonight."