IT started with an exciting Adam Swift double and ended with an all-in melee, but the chunk in between was largely forgettable and frustrating fayre.

Although Saints were always comfortable on their way to a 21-8 they made life difficult for themselves with some poor ball control.

It certainly made sure that they had plenty of defensive practice against a side that likes to attack – and despite that their line only cracked once in each half.

In contrast to recent weeks, Saints were quickly out of the blocks with Swift racing 80 metre from first receiver, beating last man Rhys Hanbury to touch down.

Walsh converted and he then put Saints back on the front foot with a superb 40/20.

Good hands and pressure created space for Swift to squeeze in at the corner for his second try to make it 10-0.

Walsh added a penalty goal after a Chris Houston high shot and Vikings had yet to launch a meaningful attack.

But then some sloppiness crept in, with loose carries and knock ons allowing Widnes to have a crack.

The Saints defence was in a determined mood, with Aaron Heremaia held up over the tryline and Brown grubber kick was dealt with in-goal by Walsh.

Saints’ defence cracked three minutes before half time when they were opened up on the right,, with Walsh unable to make an attempt to stop Ah Van steaming over on the left flank to make it 12-4 at half-time.

Swift had taken a head knock in the first half, and he joined Greg Richards on the sidelines.

Matty Fleming switched to wing outside makeshift Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Saints shift play from right to left, worked a number of times but not before Fleming had bombed a certain score when he dropped the ball over the Widnes line rather than diving over the iPitch.

Fleming made amends on 51 minutes when in a carbon copy move involving Wilkin and Shannon Mac Donnel he crossed to make it 16-4.

Centre Dom Peyroux intercepted a loose Brown pass to race 60 metres but was chased down by Joe Mellor and subsequently lost the ball in contact.

After being home and hosed, Saints were suddenly in a game when from a scrappy play Chris Houston gathered a loose ball, handed on to Brown who kicked right for Corey Thompson to touch down.

Although it made no mathematical difference, Walsh chipped over a drop-goal five minutes from time to make it 17-8.

The game looked as though it was going to meander to a forgettable conclusion but a fight erupted after Kevin Brown went head to head with Joe Greenwood who reacted. In the ensuing melee Ah Van pitched in.

It led to red cards for Brown and Ah Van and yellow for Greenwood.

Saints made their numerical advantage count with Atelea Vea weaving his way over for the game’s last try.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Dean, Runciman, Marsh; Mellor, Brown; Burke, White, Buchanan, Whitley, Houston, Leuluai. Subs: J Chapelhow, Manuokafoa, Heremaia, Farrell.

St Helens: McDonnell; Owens, Peyroux, Fleming, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Amor, Roby, Richards, Wilkin, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Subs: Walmsley, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.

Half-Time: 4-12.

Referee: Mr J Child.