SAINTS booked their Challenge Cup semi-final place with a 10-try triumph over the French Super League newcomers - but they were given a few uncomfortable moments.

The blistering heat, complete lack of away fans, ease of victory and the frequent stoppages gave the match the atmosphere of a pre-season run out.

Although it finished off with what seemed like a placid stroll, the cup favourites did not have it all their own way early on.

Catalans even had the audacity to take the lead midway through the first half when their Kiwi Test star Stacey Jones did what he has been doing for a decade, showing and going before bisecting Paul Wellens and Paul Anderson to give his side a 6-4 lead.

At that stage there were a few frowns sprinkled along the Popular Side - although they might be due to the nature of this frustratingly disjointed encounter.

The Dragons were constantly being pulled up for high tackles, offsides and indiscretions around the play the ball, but that only served to slow the game down even further.

Saints only trailed for six minutes but once they got on top they just over-powered their visitors.

The once plucky French resistance simply crumbled under the constant strain of having to deal with Saints' 'awesome foursome' who steamrollered them in the middle, creating space for the pacemen to show their flair.

Fittingly big Paul Anderson, who shows energy that belies his 34 years, bagged a brace of tries.

Although Baloo will be taking up the assistant coaching reins at Huddersfield next season, the big man is still playing like a man who could do another lap of the Super League block.

He has added a degree of subtlety to his handling game that was rarely seen at his stint at the Bulls.

Awkward

Anderson currently has plenty of back up with Jason Cayless continuing to be a deceptively awkward customer to put down, with his long arms repeatedly propelling the ball over the tacklers to keep play alive.

And when defences are sick of those two, the explosive Maurie Fa'asavalu and James Graham came off the bench to give the French a double dose of the heavy coash.

There was simply no holding Saints once they got their noses back in front with Ade Gardner's hat-trick being the highlight of the half century mauling.

Gardner should have had four, but inexplicably he dropped the ball over the line on 10 minutes after interpassing with Sean Long from deep within their own half.

However, three minutes later Long zipped in for a close range try, which was cancelled out and overhauled by Jones' converted score.

Patient Saints stuck to their task despite a few groans of frustration, and they were rewarded with Gardner's first - a walk in from a Jamie Lyon pass.

Leon Pryce looked to have increased the lead on 33 minutes when he darted to the line, but the referee ruled a double movement.

The Dragons' line did suddenly look vulnerable, even more so when big Paul Anderson crashed onto Long's short ball to part the defence.

Lyon's goal gave Saints a 10 point lead, but that looked under threat approaching the break when Paul Sculthorpe was penalised playing the ball before regaining his feet.

Fortunately for Saints, what appeared like a spell that looked like it was going to end with a Catalans score, ended up with a try at the other end.

A threatening kick by Jones was charged down by Pryce, who then had the alertness to pick up and stride away, with the support streaming up, the ball was spread toJames Graham, Lyon and Long for Gardner to sail in at the corner to conclude a length of the field effort.

It signalled a surrender from the visitors and the game went off the boil.

The second half brought points with Anderson grabbing his second after seven minutes of the restart, but the match had already lost its edge as mentally the visitors were already on the plane back home. Jon Wilkin polished off a fine break from man of the match Wellens, and then Pryce forced his way over.

Lyon then took advantage of his best scoring pass of the afternoon - albeit from opponent Jerome Guisset - to race in from 30 metres.

Although Catalans wing Justin Murphy sprinted 90 metres down the right for a consolation, Gardner and Vinnie Anderson completed the rout, with the latter coming from a fine kick from the cultured boot of Wilkin.

How they lined up:

Saints: Wellens; Gardner, Lyon, Talau, Meli; Pryce, Long; Cayless, Cunningham, P Anderson, Sculthorpe, Gilmour, Hooper. Subs: V Anderson, Graham, Fa'asavalu, Wilkin.

Catalans Dragons: Guige; Murphy, Wilson, Hughes, Verges; Frayssinous, Jones; Fellous, Rinaldi, Guisset, Jampy, Fakir, Hindmarsh. Subs: Chan, Beattie, Berthezene, Rudder

Star man: Paul Wellens

Attendance: 8,319