SAINTS kept up their perfect start to the season and in doing so cast aside the hoodoo that had hung over their home fixtures against Wolves since departing Knowsley Road.

There was a lot to like about the way Saints went about their business against a Wolves side that had come into the game on the back of ending Leeds’ unbeaten start to the campaign.

It was by far Saints’ toughest Super League challenge to date – but they passed the test with flying colours.

The Saints pack was immense, coming out on top of their titanic clash with Messrs Sims, Westwood and Hill with Alex Walmsley once again showing how far he has sprung on this term.

In the halves skipper Jon Wilkin had a Midas touch in the first half and Travis Burns kicked shrewdly and controlled the game tremendously.

The early part of the game was punctuated with a series of bone crunching collisions, and a few half chances for both sides.

Adam Swift was twice nailed heading towards the corner flag, firstly by Kevin Penny and then by Stefan Ratchford.

These chances came after Warrington had very nearly drew first blood when a series of swift passes exposed a massive gap on the left flank for Ryan Atkins to motor down field, but Saints scrambled. And Travis Burns was able to get across to foil speedster Penny.

Saints hit the front on 17 minutes with a well-worked passage of play with Masoe and Wilkin teeing up the ball for the long-striding Joe Greenwood to run a wonderful line for the try.

Burns continued his magnificent form with the boot by slotting the conversion.

Warrington responded and after a couple of penalties the pressure told with a straightforward Daryl Clark try from dummy half, improved by Gareth O’Brien.

With Burns and Wilkin kicking smartly, and Saints’ forwards controlling the ruck area the balance of the game was increasingly tipping the way of the champions.

They rode their luck as well – but it is usually the case that the sides on top earn the right to get the bounce of the ball.

So when Jordan Turner broke down the left, chipped over the top and then gave it a second hack on Wilkin was in the right place at the right time, supporting on the inside to gather the ball and saunter over the whitewash.

Wilkin turned creator just before the break when his long, cut out pass found the speedy Swift free on the flank and he did the rest.

Burns’ two conversions made it 18-6 at the break.

Back-to-back penalties put Saints under some duress, but after tackling resolutely they blotted their copybooks by enabling former Saint Micky Higham to waltz through a gap that the 10a could have fitted through.

That did not mark a resurgent spell for the Wolves, and even though the visitors tried to mix things up by sending their quick men Matty Russell, Ratchford, Clark and Higham through from dummy half.

They were met with a brick wall defence, with the ferocity of the tackling from Kyle Amor, Greg Richards and Luke Thompson demonstrating that there would be no easy yards, quick play the balls and a back pedalling defence.

Saints turned the screw at the other end, with Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook forcing his way through to the delight of the West Stand.

The increasingly impressive Atelea Vea intercepted, keeping his head as he powered 50 metres before being halted, it was only a matter of time for Saints to reap the dividend.

The next passage saw Tommy Makinson touch down in the corner then dance with delight.

The victory celebration proved to be a little premature, although had Wilkin’s one-pointer sailed through approaching the last ten, a three score lead would have been an unassailable lead.

Not for the first time Wilkin, who had an otherwide outstanding game, saw his kick charged down with the ball deflecting kindly for Penny to launch himself down the wing.

Still all was calm, but a Chris Hill try from dummy half, the margin was one converted try.

However, Saints dug in and finished the game with late penalty to add to another piece of history to Langtree Park.