WITH two games to go Saints travelled to Vale of Lune in Lancaster for their last away fixture of the season.
Although mid-table, Vale have a very good home record and where boosted by a decent crowd as it was their past players and sponsors lunch.
It was Saints who opened the scoring though with a try from Liam Sadler who went in at the corner after the pack made good yardage driving up the middle.
The conversion was missed and Vale struck back within three minutes after a quick line out as Chris Ramwell went over to level the scores.
Saints forwards where starting to find good yards with relentless pressure which allowed Andy Cummins space to slide through and score although it was not a day for goal kickers as the conversion was missed again.
Vale, encouraged by the vocal home crowd, chased down a missed pass and touched down in the corner through Joe Wallbank to level the scores.
With half time approaching, Fred Clarke powered up the pitch before slipping the ball to Tommy Banks who scored in the corner to make it 10-15 at half time.
Straight from the restart, Saints used its forward power to drive up the pitch and Fred Clarke, voted Man of the Match by the Vale past players, drove through four Vale players to touch down with the try converted by Cummins.
Vale responded by kicking a penalty to make it 13-22 ,but Saints now had victory in their sights and after a quick tap penalty by Rob O'Donnell, Cummins went over for his second of the afternoon, closley followed by a break by James Otutaha which saw him go under the sticks which was converted to make the score 13-32.
Saints' speedy winger Joel Ashton made a good break after more solid work from the forwards and squeezed in at the corner for another try to make it 13-39 and all but seal the game.
Two more tries from Danny Salisbury at the back of a driving maul and Jack Sanders in at the corner rounded off a very good second half final and a full time score of 13-51.
With five points in the bag, Saints can now only lose the title on goal difference and considering they are 100 plus better than second placed Bowden, who are five points behind them, its unlikelythis will happen.
There will be no celebrations from the players, officials or supporters though until the title is confirmed on Saturday at the last home game of the season against Wilmslow.
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