SAINTS joint intrerim coach Derek Traynor said the two points against Leigh was vital to get the team marching back up the table.

Although it was not a totally fluent display, Saints patiently chalked up the points to see off the dogged Centurions.

The win lifts saints - albeit temporarily - up to sixth.

Traynor said: "The win was vital for us after losing against Widnes.

"It was nice to get the two points and we worked hard for them too. I think we deserved it.

"We were a little bit frustrated at times. You could see glimpses and where we want to get to and do, but we have to do that for longer periods and be consistent.

"The lads pulled together and it was good to see a lot of team spirit and them working hard for one another."

There was evidence that the team is still very much a work in progress, with some plays not quite fully developed in attack.

Traynor explained: "Longy has introduced a few things into our attack and it's hard for all that to sink in at once.

"Perhaps we tried to put things on too quickly at times before we had earned the right.

"You can see there is a willingness to move the ball though and hopefully we can get a good week's training and get some more into them.

"We are looking to move the ball wider and move defences rather than going down the middle."

On Saints' defence, which conceded just the one early score, Traynor added: "We did put ourselves under pressure at times. I don't think our defence was perfect but we scrambled well for each other.

"And to only let one try in against any Super League team is a good performance.

"We didn't get the start we wanted but we got over it, settled down and then got on top and rolled down the field.

"There was a lot of character in the performance."