Super League: St Helens 39-16 Catalans Dragons

Adam Swift's first-half hat-trick helped St Helens overturn a 6-0 deficit at Langtree Park

Adam Swift's four tries helped St Helens beat Catalans Dragons - a victory which created a four-point gap between the sides in Super League.

Catalans remain fifth in the table but their hopes of overhauling St Helens to secure a play-off spot faded with their loss at Langtree Park.

Dave Taylor and Jason Baitieri touched down for Catalans but Swift's treble put Saints 16-12 in front at the break.

Swift added another after half-time as Saints eased to a seventh win in a row.

Further tries from Jack Owens and Joe Greenwood sealed a comprehensive success, while Luke Walsh kicked six goals and a drop-goal.

Winger Swift completed his hat-trick seconds before the half-time hooter, and at a time when the home side were down to 12 men as scrum-half Walsh was in the sin bin following a dangerous tackle on Lucas Albert.

Catalans lost Jodie Broughton, Todd Carney and Justin Horo to injuries as their run of five successive wins in matches against Saints was ended.

St Helens: Lomax; Owens, Peyroux, Percival, Swift; Turner, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Richards, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood, Wilkin.

Replacements: Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles.

Catalans Dragons: Gigot; Broughton, Garcia, Duport, Yaha; Carney, Albert; Taylor, Pelissier, Casty, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri.

Replacements: Anderson, Aiton, Bousquet, Mounis.

Referee: James Child