SAINTS increased their lead at the Super League summit with a convincing, albeit forgettable 26-4 triumph over Hull KR.

Coming so soon after last Sunday’s gruelling Challenge Cup triumph over Hull FC, there was inevitably always going to be an element of After the Lord Mayor’s show surrounding this game.

And so it proved, with the errors on both sides and the failure to execute all the half chances seeing the scoreboard stagnate for a good half hour of the second half.

The game fell between two stools, lacking the runaway score to keep board ticking over and the fans cheering; nor did a depleted Robins side ever pose any substantial threat of ever troubling Saints for the points.

There were the occasional moments of magic to illuminate it over the course of the 80 minutes, but it is an indication now of how high the expectation levels are that quite a few fans left before the end.

It was a shame for those who left, because they missed a Ben Barba special with the Australian ace streaking the full length of the pitch on a touchline-hugging run in the last play of the match that did much to erase some of the tedium that preceded it.

Given the rest of the goings on over the weekend, Saints will be content to chalk up another two points five days after their cup progression to increase their cushion at the top.

They came into the game lacking two of their midfield pivots, stand-off Jonny Lomax and loose forward Jon Wilkin, with Theo Fages and Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook stepping into their boots.

The adjustment did not appear to unduly affect them initially as Saints were swiftly out of the blocks when Adam Quinlan hoofed the kick off out on the full, with Saints crossing up the other end through a Ryan Morgan try without Rovers touching the ball.

It was clear that Saints tries to up the pace of the game, battling to regain their feet for a quick play the ball.

At dummy half James Roby was back to his incisive, smart and industrious best – and remained so for 71 minutes before Justin Holbrook rewarded his honest endeavour with a break.

And it was fitting that it was Roby who doubled Saints’ lead when from a charge from Kyle Amor, the team’s Mr Perpetual Motion forced his way through a heap of bodies from dummy half to complete his century of touchdowns in the red vee.

A big score looked on the cards and Rovers braced themselves for a mullering, adopting tactics slow it down, drilling it into touch, to get a gulp of air.

That, combined with the errors on both side resulted in a game that soon lost its fizz.

There were odd flash and after Regan Grace was called back for his try in the corner, Barba polished off a close-quarter move on 28 minutes.

As the half drew to a close Barba punished a Rovers kick through, picking up thde ball before racing down the wing, and when he ran out of space, he kicked back inside for Tommy Makinson to chase. The deadball line only just beat them, but at least it roused the crowd.

Saints failed to execute a number of half chances – had they done so then the Robins may have thrown the towel in.

As it was it was Rovers who came out with some additional vim and vigour in the second half and clocked up their only score of the game when, after throwing it about, Junior Vaivai collected his own dribble to catch the defence out.

Even at this stage a Rovers rally seemed unlikely, and they made that task a mission impossible with some poor errors that invited Saints up to the other end.

And what followed was another one of those pieces of brilliance, with Dom Peyroux’s penetrative burst and lay-off for Danny Richardson leading to the half weighing up the options on the left, with a well-measured kick wide collected by Mark Percival to restore the three try cushion on 48 minutes.

It remained like that for more than half an hour – and the humming chatter on the terraces was in stark contrast to the roars and tumult of five days ago.

But good things come to those who wait, and when Rovers tried to finish with a consolation score with barely seconds on the clock, Percival scooped up and unleashed Barba, who homed in on the flank where he beat the Robins chasers in the 90 metre foot race to the line.

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

Hull KR: Quinlan; Shaw, Salter, Vaivai, Wallis; Marsh, Blair; Johnson, Cator, Greenwood, Clarkson, Tickle, Donaldson. Subs: Scruton, Masoe, Kavanagh, Atkin.