St Helens added weight to their title claims with a 38-18 victory over basement Super League club Widnes Vikings as the Dacia Magic Weekend proper got under way in Newcastle.

The Saints looked below par and Widnes put in a good performance that belied their league position – but the team who have led the league since round one were good value for the score, and the 20 point gap on the day.

Nevertheless, it was the Vikings who opened the scoring when Matt Whitley crossed after just five minutes, with Stefan Marsh converting.

But St Helens quickly replied to illustrate just why they have been so dominant this season

It took just four minutes for Danny Richardson to level the scores, with a try and a conversion and four minutes after that Mark Percival scored – courtesy of the video referee reversing an onfield call – off a Ben Barba kick to put St Helens in front 12-6.

This was followed by Regan Grace crossing for the first of two tries on the day,  also off a Barba kick, to put them 18-6 ahead; Richardson converting again.

Wellington Albert kept the Vikings in it with a try under the posts, converted by Marsh, on 25 minutes and, after St  Helens’ Dominique Peyroux was sinbinned for obstruction in the in-goal, Jimmy Keinhorst scored again for the Chemics, who looked in with a chance as they went into the dressing rooms just 18-22 behind at half time.

But with Widnes fullback Rhys Hanbury not returning to the field (leg injury) after the break, the Vikings found it harder to compete with St Helens, who took advantage of an early penalty for a ball-strip in the opposition. 10 to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a two-pointer.

And then Saints returned to full strength.

Two tries for centre Ryan Morgan - plus a spectacular late 50m run by Regan Grace after gathering a loose ball from a Barba kick - were enough for Saints to secure the points and ensure more time at the top.