FLYING wing Adam Swift dashed in for a stunning hat-trick of tries as Saints made certain of a semi-final qualification with a 42-38 win at Castleford.
All the tries came from the dazzling outside backs with Mark Percival grabbing a brace, Adam Quinlan dashing over for one and Tommy Makinson adding another.
If the attack was tip-top, the same cannot be said of the defence which switched off after clocking up an 18-0 lead.
It made for a topsy-turvy game - a now typical Saints v Castleford match, but Keiron Cunningham's men found enough to get back in it and pull clear to secure qualification to the last four.
The final positions are not yet settled, and although it is unlikely that they will catch Wigan even if they win the encounter between the sides next week.
And they will be relying on a slip up from Huddersfield to take third.
Under theis system it is a straightforward 1 v. 4, 2 v 3 knockout with the winners going through to Old Trafford on October 10.
Bernard Platt was there to capture the action.
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