Storm Arwen tried its best to intervene with fallen trees blocking access to many roads en route to Southport for the important challenge against “The Seasiders”.

But, the storm that blew at Waterloo Road was the force 9 which Saints unleashed on a brave home team.

For the opening ten minutes both sides worked the ball wide to examine their opponent’s defences but it was the Saints who were able to break through with a scrambled try wide right, touched down by full back Andy Cummings.

For the next 20 minutes the match was finely balanced until sustained pressure in the Southport red zone forced a yellow card offence close to the line to award Saints a penalty scrum five yards out, from which Niall Cavanagh stretched to the line for Saints’ second try, converted by Dai Morley.

Saints had now gained an element of control over this contest and a well-worked blindside move sent Ewan Nolan down his right wing before passing inside to Liam Sadler, for a third try near the posts which was duly converted by Morley.

And, just a few minutes later, the same No.8 pick up and blindside attack sent Nolan over for his own try right on half time.

The second half was dominated by Saints whose superior size and strength over-powered brave Southport’s resistance.

Saints added a sequence of tries by Cummings, Cavanagh (2), Morley and Ben Sadler, a late inclusion from the bench, to notch up another 25 points, plus two conversions by Cummings, to secure a convincing victory against very game opponents.