IT was after the Lord Mayor’s Show as Saints slumped to a third consecutive home defeat – this one against a Catalans Dragons who have moved joint top of the Super League.

Although Saints competed for the second quarter of the game, it was a jaded, tired and erratic display that was pale shadow of last week’s display at Warrington.

What was most disappointing was the ease in which the Dragons could open up the Saints defence on the edge, matched by their inability to threaten the visitors’ line despite a long spell on the ball.

There is a reason for that – and a look down the teamsheet missing four of the numbers one to five and their two regular running back rowers.

But even so, at times Saints’ lack of a cutting edge which then descended into a desperate, chaotic and disorganised attack, was disappointing in the face of a stubborn defence.

In parts there was plenty of spirit, but that was not going to be enough against a Dragons side so packed with quality that they can rightly be viewed as title contenders.

After Jack Ashworth had spilled the ball, Catalans had an early opportunity to press and they were able to draw first blood on seven minutes.

Although Broughton picked up Carney's pass off the floor to wrong-foot young opposite number Jake Spedding to force his way over on seven minutes, the defence should have done better.

It seemed simplicity itself when, following a penalty, five crisp passes created an overlap for Broughton to go over in acres of space for his second six minutes later.

Pat Richards added the goal to make it 10-0, and Saints desperately needed to score next.

A great break from Jake Spedding, was supported by Andre Savelio but Shannon McDonnell just could not beat the cover.

Then a lack of composure in the next passage of play stopped them from cashing in on the good position, with play ending with a Jordan Turner knock on.

A spell of Saints pressure ended with a neat handling move on the left, with Turner and Spedding combining, with the latter popping the ball back inside for Fages to dash over.

Alas, the Dragons once again responded when Broughton collected a long Carney pass to get outside of Spedding to complete his hat-trick.

Saints were under the pump, but after McDonnell had smartly scooped the ball back inside to stop a 40/20 they launched another raid just before the break after a strong tackle busting run from Alex Walmsley.

On the last tackle, with little looking on, scrum-half Luke Walsh chipped over the top to re-gather to slide over and add his second conversion.

That sent Saints in just two points adrift but a quick-fire Catalans brace put the skids under them.

First of all impressive second rower Glenn Stewart twisted out of two would-be tacklers before flinging it back inside for Richie Myler to cross.

And then two minutes later fine work from Shane Horo engineered space down the left flank for Richards to canter over.

Two converted tries adrift, Saints forced a succession of repeat sets but could not find the wherewithal to pierce the Dragons line.

And when Fages finally managed to get over the whitewash, such was the ferocity of Jason Baitieri’s tackle that the ball was spilled.

That was more or less it for Saints with Dragons closing the game down with Broughton gathering Krisnan Inu's pass to score his fourth try on 63 minutes Richards missed the goal but wrapped up the scoring with a penalty and cap a miserable night.

Saints: McDonnell; Owens, Turner, Dawson, Spedding; Fages, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Savelio, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ashworth, Wilkin. Subs: Amor, Tasi, Richards, Knowles.

Catalans Dragons: Gigot; Broughton, Inu, Duport, Richards, Carney, Myler; Taylor, Da Costa, Bousquet, Stewart, Anderson, Baitieri. Subs: Casty, Horo, Mounis, Bosc.