LACKLUSTRE Widnes Vikings handed back the Karalius Cup they won for the past two years after being beaten 16-0 by St Helens.

Although it was largely a tight game, Widnes did not ask enough questions and in the second half the youthful Saints side scrambled to keep them at bay.

Both sides changed radically as the game progressed, with unlimited interchanges used.

Vikings fell behind after 11 minutes when Theo Fages beat two Vikings defenders before popping it up for new signing Ryan Morgan to race in from 20 metres. Matty Smith added the extras to make it 6-0.

Vikings held out just before the break, forcing Theo Fages into throwing a forward pass to deny Adam Swift a try.

Within the first set of the restart Vikings fell further behind, with young centre Jake Spedding touching down after a grubber kick on the last tackle into the in-goal was not dealt with by full back Rhys Hanbury.

Vikings then started to build pressure on the Saints line to try and almost scored but Corey Thompson was bundled into touch at the corner by Ricky Bailey and Regan Grace.

Vikings eventually crossed the line when Danny Craven ran a great line into a hole, but Tom Gilmore's pass was ruled forward.

There was no way back after that sickener and Saints wrapped the game up 10 minutes from time when Fages pounced on Danny Richardson's grubber to score. Richardson tagged on the extras.

Saints: 1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith; 14. Luke Douglas, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Joe Greenwood, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 12. Jon Wilkin. Subs: 8. Alex Walmsley, 15. Adam Walker, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee, 19. Greg Richards, 20. Morgan Knowles, 21. Jack Owens, 22. Matty Fleming, 23. Jack Ashworth, 24. Danny Richardson, 25. Ricky Bailey, 26. Jake Spedding, 27. Calvin Wellington, 28. Regan Grace, 30. Jonah Cunningham, 31. Aaron Smith. Vikings: 1. Rhys Hanbury; 2. Corey Thompson, 26. Tom Armstrong, 4. Charly Runciman, 17. Stefan Marsh; 32. Danny Craven, 7. Tom Gilmore; 15. Gil Dudson, 31. Jordan Johnstone, 10. Jack Buchanan, 12. Matt Whitley, 11. Chris Houston, 19. Macgraff Leuluai. Subs: 5. Patrick Ah Van, 20. Manase Manuokafoa, 22. Ted Chapelhow, 23. Jay Chapelhow, 24. Sam Brooks, 25. Tom Olbison, 28. Ryan Ince, 29. Brad Walker, 42. Danny Walker.