SAINTS called upon the help of dozens of volunteers to shift the snow at Langtree Park – and that allowed Keiron Cunningham to run the rule over a full 25-man squad.

Although there were a few perplexed faces in the ground when Saints trailed 14-10 at the break, Saints found their feet in the second half.

Cunningham gave debuts to new signings Jack Owens, Dominique Peyroux, Lama Tasi and Theo Fages  - and all will be better for the run out in their new colours.

Of those Frenchman Fages was the pick - showing good game awareness, verve and no little ability to execute the key plays.

Fages livened up Saints' attacking play up no end from the halves and added that unpredictability that only comes when a seven takes on the line.

In something of a slow start Saints took an early lead following a 40/20 from Luke Walsh.

In the next play the Australian number seven sent loose forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook strolling over for the opening try.

The Rams tackled well, harassing Saints well, with Travis Burns twice being snuffed out.

Dewsbury pressure saw a Walsh pass intercepted by Rams scrum half Andy Kain, who sped 80 metres. Although Matty Dawson raced back to eventually overhaul him barely yards from the try line, Rams kept their composure to move the ball right where Shane Grady lobbed to pass wide for Dale Morton to cross on the flank.

Paul Sykes missed the goal, but Rams were in the game.

Saints stretched the lead when centre Jordan Turner put Mark Percival in at corner.

But when Dawson spilled a cross kick Dewsbury had a great position for ex-Saint Dom Speakman to poke a wonderful grubber between posts for Aaron Brown to pounce.

Sykes’ goal levelled matters and then just before the break Speakman’s kick was spilled by Owens allowing Andy Kain pounce on it.

Sykes missed the goal but they had a 14-10 lead at the break.

Saints started the second half in determined fashion and were soon back on level terms.

Percival, back to centre after starting on the flank, pierced the line before turning the full back inside out twice before showing a clean pair of heels.

Fages, who was looking commanding and lively at seven, sparked the move that put Rams on the back foot and then was on hand to finish it off with some direct running.

Then it was Fages' pass that sent McCarthy-Scarsbrook over for his second, outfoxing Karl Pryce to score.

However, Rams were not finished and Dale Morton's break saw Kyle Trout run over youngster Ricky Bailey to score.

But Saints finished with a flourish with young Welsh wing Calvin Wellington dashing in on 75 minutes, and a minute before the end sub hooker Dougie Charnock powered over from dummy half to give the scoreline a flattering appearance.

 

St Helens: Jack Owens; Matty Dawson, Jordan Turner, Dominique Peyroux, Mark Percival; Travis Burns, Luke Walsh; Lama Tasi, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Jon Wilkin, Joe Greenwood, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Subs: Atelea Vea, Greg Richards, Andre Savelio, Luke Thompson, Theo Fages, Lewis Charnock, Oliver Davies, Jack Ashworth, Morgan Knowles, Ricky Bailey, Calvin Wellington, Jake Spedding, Regan Grace.

Dewsbury: Karl Pryce; Dale Morton, Jason Crookes, Shane Grady, Dalton Grant; Paul Sykes, Andy Kain; Matt Groat, Tom Hemingway, Jack Teanby, Kyle Trout, Toby Adamson, Luke Adamson. Subs: Ryan Hepworth, Aaron Brown, Dom Speakman, Nathan Conroy, Joel Farrell, Jason Muranka, Ryan Wright.