St Helens thump Featherstone to go top of the table

Leah Burke ran in four second-half tries for a rampant St Helens side

St Helens ran in 11 tries in a thumping 56-6 win over Featherstone Rovers to return to the top of the Women's Super League table.

Saints opened the scoring after just two minutes as Philippa Birchall ran clear to score under the posts.

Despite Rovers briefly reducing the arrears by four points via Brogan Churm, a 14-minute hat-trick from Dani McGifford changed the complexion, and once Jodie Cunningham scored Saints led 28-6 at the break.

Two second-half tries from Katie Mottershead and an astonishing four from England winger Leah Burke comfortably sealed Saints' 12th successive victory in all competitions to send them back two points clear at the top of the table following Leeds Rhinos' win over Wigan Warriors on Friday.

By contrast, Rovers remain pointless after 11 matches and staring down the barrel of having to retain their Super League status in a play-off against the national winners of the Championship.

The team directly above Rovers, Warrington Wolves, went down 32-14 at Barrow Raiders.

Warrington had briefly led, but two Sam Norman tries and one from Demi Fisher took the home side 12 points clear.

Despite Warrington scoring a converted try just before half-time, two scores from Vanessa Temple, and another from Emily Stirzaker, secured the two points for Raiders who climb to sixth in the table.