IT was a night in which Saints - coached by Royce Simmons - put their want-away Kyle Eastmond worries behind them and Lomaskell was born,

Saints chalked up a magnificent win over after a real all-round team effort sparked by young half backs Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell.

Both 20-year-old halves stepped up to the mark, with some direct running, astute passing and in, Gaskell’s case, some precision kicking.

There was an eye-catching performance from Jamie Foster, recalled to the wing to play outside Francis Meli.

With a backline possessing more pace and attacking threat, Saints played their finest rugby of the season so far.

But they would not have able to do any of that without a determined effort from the pack. James Graham’s marathon stint led the way, but he received plenty of back up from Josh Perry and Tony Puletua.

Saints took the lead on 22 minutes when Lomax, Paul Wellens and Meli put Foster in at the corner, with the latter coolly slotting the extras.

Saints had to defend heroically to keep that lead, with Wellens saving two tries, but then a bit of misfortune finally cracked their line.

The first came when a fortuitous penalty allowed Leeds the field position for Ryan Hall to cross in the corner.

Kevin Sinfield’s goal made it 6-6 at the break.

But the Loiners struck first three minutes after the restart – albeit from a forward pass – when winger Zak Hardaker scored, Sinfield missing the conversion.

In a closely fought tussle, Leeds desperately tried to get on a roll – but Saints stuck to their guns.

And on 51 minutes they got their rewards when Michael Shenton plucked Gaskell’s clever, hanging cross kick out of the air to touch down.

It was a short-lived lead, after defending two repeat set on their line Paul McShane went in from dummy half to put Leeds’ noses back in front.

But Saints once again had plenty left in the tank for the last quarter and on 63 minutes Meli scorched on to Moore’s fine pass to score. Foster kicked the goal off the South Stand touchline to put Saints 18-16 up.

And then Gaskell sent Wellens storming over to extend the lead and Foster wrapped it up by collecting a wonderful pass from Meli three minutes from the end.

Foster completed his night’s work with his fifth goal from as many attempts to seal a great all-round effort.

Leeds: 1. Brent Webb, 27. Zak Hardaker, 19. Kallum Watkins, 4. Keith Senior, 5. Ryan Hall; 13. Kevin Sinfield, 7. Rob Burrow; 11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 9. Danny Buderus, 17. Ian Kirke, 20. Weller Hauraki, 14. Ali Lauitiiti, 12. Carl Ablett. Subs: 15. Ben Cross, 18. Luke Burgess, 21. Chris Clarkson, 24. Paul McShane.

Saints: 1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Michael Shenton, 5. Francis Meli, 22. Jamie Foster; 25. Lee Gaskell, 20. Jonny Lomax; 8. Josh Perry, 9. James Roby, 10. James Graham, 16. Paul Clough, 13. Chris Flannery, 11. Tony Puletua. Subs: 14. Scott Moore, 17. Gary Wheeler, 18. Matty Ashurst, 21. Shaun Magennis.