IT was by no means a Magic classic, but Saints eventually saw off their dogged neighbours from Widnes, 38-18, to safely take home the two points.

As a game, the big stage had been set for Saints to continue their bounce of recent weeks, but instead they found themselves unable to really cut loose against a side that was unwilling to simply roll over.

Saints contributed to that by the odd defensive lapse and some careless ball control, but there was a feeling that they were maybe a bit too relaxed about what Widnes could throw at them.

They tightened their defence in the second half – keeping Widnes scoreless – but never really clicked into the machine that had racked up the points against Castleford, Huddersfield and Salford in recent weeks.

They did, however, score some well-worked tries, even if the exhibition match some anticipated never materialised.

Widnes surprised everyone by scoring first when back rower Matt Whitley showed determination to go over against his hometown team after six minutes.

Saints responded with a blistering run from Dom Peyroux slipping the tackle, before setting the ball up nicely for the supporting Danny Richardson to race over to level matters.

It looked like Saints were going to blow the Vikings away when Mark Percival scooped up a loose ball from a Ben Barba kick through, and grounded.

The video ref overturned the on-field decision and gave the try.

Saints pressed home their advantage when they turned defence into attack in a classy way, with Barba’s tackle foiling a certain try at one end.

Moments later Regan Grace was over, making it 18-6 after 20 minutes.

But two soft penalties for high tackles, the second of which saw Zeb Taia spoken to, allowed Widnes some time on the Saints line.

And after a couple of probes, Papua New Guinea pack man Wellington Albert forced his way through for a try.

Widnes were not going away, and Saints were probably guilty of letting some things drift from the script.

But then a Barba try in the corner from nothing pushed Saints’ lead further on and again the anticipated Vikings collapse was anticipated.

However, it was Vikings who scored after the hooter had sounded after a passage of play that had seen them have Saints rocking.

It took a Peyroux foul, taking out a Widnes chaser off the ball, to prevent a score – but he was yellow carded for his sins.

It looked like James Roby had killed the danger when he punched a grubber dead, but with no seconds left Widnes smartly used their extra man to engineer a space in the corner for Jimmy Keinhorst.

Stef Marsh’s goal cut the deficit to 22-18 at the break, but Saints’ defence tightened considerably in the second 40.

There was a degree of caution when Richardson slotted the penalty to make it a six-point lead, and then they had a stint of robust defence on their own line in the minutes before Peyroux returned.

Saints then made sure of the spoils, with Ryan Morgan scoring two well worked tries.

The first saw the dazzling footwork of Mark Percival create the chance, flicking out for Richardson to support with Morgan going over out wide.

He showed good strength to get over for the second too, and with the game won, Grace picked up a loose ball and raced away for his second try just before the end.

At the end, they did not hit their straps, but when players can off days and deviate from the script and come away with a 20 points margin, then it can’t be bad.

Saints: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Richardson; Douglas, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin. Subs: Fages, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Knowles, Lees.

Widnes: Hanbury; Ah Van, Runciman, Keihorst, Marsh; Mellor, Heremaia; Chapelhow J, Burke, Whitley, Wilde, Cahill. Subs: Leuluai, Olbison, W Albert, D Walker.