IN-FORM St Helens lifted the Karalius Cup with a comprehensive 28-6 win over Widnes at Halton Stadium.

Although the Vikings blustered at times, in truth their understrength side was no match for Justin Holbrook’s men who have had their colours lowered just once this season.

And in Australian fullback Ben Barba, Saints had a man who threatened every time he touched the ball.

While Saints made just one change from the side that got the better of Wigan on Good Friday, Vikings boss Denis Betts reshuffled his deck significantly.

There was no Rhys Hanbury, Krisnan Inu, Joe Mellor, Gil Dudson or Chris Houston for Widnes.

Ryan Ince, Alex Gerrard, Danny Walker, Wellington Albert and Macgraff Leuluai were give a chance to show what they could offer.

Widnes started looking lively but a promising attack finished with a knock-on near the Saints line.

Not for the first time this season Barba stepped up for his side.

On seven minutes, he skipped away from an attempted tackle and sent fellow Australian Ryan Morgan in wide out.

Just two minutes later, Danny Craven and Ince dithered as they went to field a Barba grubber-kick and Mark Percival nipped in for an opportunist six-pointer to make it 10-0.

Widnes stormed back at the other end and after a couple of near misses, Papua New Guinea international Wellington Albert scored his first try for the Vikings when he stormed onto an Aaron Heremaia pass with Tom Gilmore converting.

Just when it looked as though Widnes were establishing a firm foothold in the game, the familiar issue of errors crept in. Craven knocked on from the restart and then Gilmore kicked out on the full.

Giving Saints multiple bites at the cherry is never advisable and Justin Holbrook’s men took advantage when Danny Richardson’s short kick was pounced on by Percival for his second converted try.

With the rain pouring down, both sides struggled for fluency at the back end of the first half and the score remained at 16-6.

Saints had prop Luke Douglas sin-binned for a crusher tackle at the start of the second half and Widnes went close through Ince.

But Saints went straight up the other end and that man Barba jinked his way over from close range and the visitors followed up with Tommy Makinson try at the right corner a second 12-man score to make it 24-6.

A Danny Walker 40/20 bought some land for Widnes but a third tackle knock-on stopped the momentum.

Saints showed know such fragility at the other end as Makinson crossed for his second from a bewildering passing move as the ball was kept alive on last tackle.

Both sides gave the impression of being happy to play time out though Tom Olbiosn’s 50 metre break for the Vikings briefly livened things up but Saints’ defence held firm.

Widnes tried hard to narrow the gap in the closing minutes but found Saints in resilient mood.

Widnes: Craven; Marsh, Chamberlain, Runciman, Ince; Heremaia, Gilmore; Gerrard, Johnstone, T Chapelhow, Olbison, Wilde, B Walker. Subs: Albert, D Walker, Burke, Leuluai..

St Helens: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Fages, Richardson; Thompson, Roby, Amor, Taia, Peyroux, Wilkin. Subs: Smith, Douglas, Knowles, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Half-time: 6-16 Referee: Mr C Kendall Attendance: 6,706