Saints 46 Leeds 24 LEEDS' resistance began with a roar and a few swinging arms, but it ended up with a whimper as rampant Saints clinically demolished their play-off rivals to keep a firm grip on third place.

Just like last week's thrashing of Warrington Wolves, Saints put spring's pre and post-Twickenham defeats into perspective in grand style and in doing so created a four point buffer zone between them and the Rhinos.

Hat-trick hero Paul Sculthorpe again led the way with another superb all round performance, but more pleasing was the influence of Tommy Martyn who is slowly, but surely recovering his timing after a long injury lay-off.

Significantly it was Martyn who set the ball rolling, setting up Saints' first two tries to create the perfect platform for a victory charge. He is not the quickest of players - but there are few as shrewd or deadly near to the opponent's line.

Saints' first try was typical with Martyn seeing off Tonie Carroll with an outrageous dummy, fending off Karl Pratt, before finding Kevin Iro with the perfect scoring pass.

He followed up with an exquisite long ball, floated over two players, left Anthony Sullivan with a walk in for the second and Saints were on their way.

Although coach Ian Millward remains protective enough of his recuperating star stand-off to keep him away from goal kicking duties, Martyn's boot in open play was put into good effect with some long raking touch finders, 40/20s and perfectly weighted balls, constantly turning round the Rhinos.

Millward was delighted with Martyn's display and said: "Tommy played very well - although he is not 100 per cent yet. He has come back a couple of weeks early because we have got no backs ready to play Super League.

"I gave him my man of the match award, but I know he is going to get better. That is great for me and great for the other players.

"He had a hand in the first two tries and his kicking game was great."

Sculthorpe was again magnificent - strange as it sounds, this season's injuries suffered by Sean Long and Martyn may have been the making of the multi-talented loose forward. Some young players get weighed down when responsibility is heaped on their shoulders - not Sculthorpe, who has emerged from this period a more commanding influence on the park and Saints play is better for it.

After Saints rattled up a 16-0 lead, the balance seemed to be shifting Leeds' way when the visitors notched two quick tries before the interval. When Chris Joynt was sin binned shortly after the restart, Leeds' tails were up for the first time.

But Saints are made of sterner stuff and their defensive resolve held despite the numerical disadvantage, compounding Leeds' misery with a brace of quick tries before Joynt returned to the fold. Leeds were broken, the rest was a pure formality.

After being out-smarted and out-gunned Leeds' coach Darryl Powell summed up the feelings in the Rhinos camp.

"After having the psychological advantage, coming back from that deficit and looking like we were going to put them under some pressure, it was very disappointing. We missed too many one-on-one tackles and you cannot do that against a team as dangerous Saints," Powell said.

Although Millward seems pretty relaxed about a top three or top five finish - confident his charges can do the business when the the big game experience is called for home or away - it would be so much easier if Saints could maintain their third place berth.

On Friday's showing, Leeds look a busted flush. Hull, by default and with an easy run-in, should take a top three spot, leaving Saints to battle it out with Wigan and Bradford in the shake out.

Saints' destiny is in their own hands - with two games against Wigan and a game against both Leeds and Bradford taking on added significance. All Millward will hope for is an injury free run-in, particularly amongst the backs where they are already taking multi-skilling to the limit. Tony Stewart's back muscle injury, and probable two weeks on the sidelines, was the only dampener on Friday night's proceedings. How they lined up Saints: Tony Stewart; Steve Hall, Kevin Iro, Sean Hoppe, Anthony Sullivan; Tommy Martyn, Paul Wellens; Sonny Nickle, Keiron Cunningham, Wayne McDonald, David Fairleigh, John Stankevitch, Paul Sculthorpe. Substitutes: Chris Joynt for McDonald (22), Tim Jonkers for Stewart (25), Mark Edmondson for Fairleigh (34 BB, reversed 40), McDonald for Nickle (56), Edmondson for Iro (76).

Leeds: Francis Cummins; Chev Walker, Tonie Caroll, Keith Senior, Mark Calderwood; Kevin Sinfield, Karl Pratt; Barrie McDermott, Robbie Mears, Jamie Matthiou, Andy Hay, Anthony Farrell, Bradley Clyde. Subs: Danny Ward for McDermott (31), Brett Mullins for Calderwood (56), David Wrench for Farrell (61), Matt Diskin for Pratt (71), McDermott for Mathiou (54)

Referee: Stuart Cummins (Widnes)

Attendance: 8913 Clock watch 2 minutes: Leeds' prop Barrie McDermott takes a swing at David Fairleigh - a fracas follows.

8: Kevin Iro crosses after good work by Tommy Martyn. Conversion missed. 4-0.

18: Paul Sculthorpe penalty 6-0.

23: Anthony Sullivan collects Martyn's floated pass to score, Sculthorpe converts from the touchline. 12-0.

32: Sean Hoppe intercepts and races 80 metres before being hauled down short of the line. A quick play the ball sees Sculthorpe finish off. Conversion missed 16-0.

36: Andy Hay crosses, Kevin Sinfield's conversion in off the post. 16-6.

39: Keith Senior slices through to feed Francis Cummins, converted by Sinfield 16-12.

44: Chris Joynt sin-binned for interference at the play-the-ball.

51: Tackle breaking run from Paul Wellens creates the position for Martyn to send John Stankevitch over from close range. Sculthorpe tacks on the extras, 22-12.

54: Iro and Keiron Cunningham combine to send Sculthorpe over, who converts to make it 28-12.

58: Sculthorpe completes his hat-trick and adds the conversion. 34-12.

63: Video ref takes an age to award a penalty try to Leeds' Tonie Carroll after obstruction from Wellens. Sinfield converts 34-18.

67: Martyn try, Sculthorpe conversion. 40-18.

74: Carroll try, Sinfield conversion 40-24.

77: Wayne McDonald, Fairleigh, Wellens and Mick Higham move the ball along the line for Hoppe to cross. Sculthorpe concludes the scoring with a conversion 46-24.