SAINTS coach Kristian Woolf was happy with his side's first half performance in the 40-8 win over Challenge Cup winners Leeds - but was disappointed with the early second half wobble.

Three tries from Josh Simm, including an absolute peach of an opener, plus one polished off by Zeb Taia after a magnificent break from evergreen skipper James Roby put the reigning champions 22-0 up at the break.#

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But a lapse in concentration and focus, which included three dropped balls and a couple of penalties, resulted in a scratch third quarter of the game before normal service was resumed.

Woolf said: "We did some pretty good things in the first half, a bit like last week, and played with a really good discipline and had a really good defensive attitude.

"There are a lot of things to be happy with – but we dropped off after half time particularly that first 20 minutes of the second half.

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"We went out there (in the second half) and did everything we said we were not going to do.

"It is difficult – but that bit was a little bit disappointing that is for sure."

Just like the game against a depleted Wigan at the end of last month, Saints were on something of a hiding to nothing against a weakened opposition.

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The absence of so many of the Rhinos cup winning line-up played its part in Saints' drop off once the game was won.

"It is a difficult one," Woolf said.

"We had geared ourselves up all week to take on the Challenge Cup winners and we were expecting a real dogfight of a game.

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"When you turn up and they have named a much younger, inexperienced side and it takes a little bit of the excitement out of the contest.

"I thought they handled that well in the first half but once they got on top it does become hard to maintain that motivation at times."

There was special praise for wing Tommy Makinson, getting his feet well and truly back under the table following his return from suspension.

Although he did not match his try-scoring exploits from the week before, his set-starts were immense and his burst go down the flank to set up Kevin Naiqama was a particular stand-out highlight.

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"I thought Tommy was really good for us tonight – his carries off the back fence coming out of yardage were excellent.

"He’s always got that try scoring ability as well. He's a very good player for us and I have been happy with what he's done for us the last two games," Woolf said.