Not for the first time this season, they had to dig deep to overcome the challenge in front of them and Quins, who arrived at the GPW Recruitment Stadium on Friday having lost only once on their travels in 2009, proved formidable opposition on the night.

The Londoners asked a series of searching questions and in terms of possession matched the table-toppers but in the end Saints' extra cutting edge in attack enabled them to registers their 11th league victory in 14 outings.

It could, however, hardly be described as a classic between two clubs harbouring thoughts of reaching the Old Trafford Grand Final.
Defences dominated for long spells and with both guilty of far too many handling errors, the stop-start nature of the game we didn't present an eye-catching spectacle for the fans.
That is until the final quarter when Quins cut a 16-0 deficit to just four points and had the scent of victory firmly in their nostrils. Saints, too, raised the stakes and what had been a dull an unimaginative affairs suddenly developed into a pulsating nerve-shredding finale in which either could have snatched the points.

However, a Keiron Cunningham trademark try two minutes from the end settled Saints' nerves after a far from convincing Super League performance in front of their own supporters.

The hosts could argue that the absence of injured wingers Ade Gardner and Francis Meli upset their rhythm but at the same time it could be said that Kyle Eastmond and Gary Wheeler, who filled their boots, were more than adequate deputies. Leon Pryce was also switched to the wing berth at various stages and once more showed his versatility.

Coach Mick Potter said: "Leon is so athletic that he can play anywhere in the back line. He said he would jump in if we needed him to move to the wing and that shows what an unselfish player he is when it comes to the putting the needs of the team first.

"It also gave Kyle time in the back line and that is a position which he will probably gravitate to in time, even though he is versatile enough to feature in any position."

Prop Jake Emmitt was handed his senior starting debut and while used sparingly didn't look out of his depth and made more than a useful contribution. Quins started the brighter and only a superb Paul Wellens' tackle prevented Danny Orr from breaking through.

Despite early territorial supremacy, the Londoners fell behind after 11 minutes when Matt Gidley fed fellow Aussie Chris Flannery who went over in the right-hand corner.

Saints moved further ahead on the stroke of half-time - Eastmond and Gidley combining to send Wellens burrowing over the whitewash and Sean Long tagging on the goal - and then extended their advantage to 16-0 in the 53rd minute.

The try was created by an electrifying break from Long who off-loaded to James Roby as he was tackled close to the line and the substitute did the rest.

Long goaled but the visitors stormed back with tries from substitute Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (57 mins) and Luke Dorn (67 mins), the latter racing almost the length of the field after intercepting a Long pass.

Rob Purdham landed both goals to set up a grandstand finish but it was Saints who finally settled the issue in the 78th minute - skipper Cunningham going over from acting half-back and Long slotting over his third goal from four attempts.

Teams - Saints: Wellens, Eastmond, Gidley, Gilmour, Wheeler, Pryce, Long, Graham, Cunningham, Emmitt, Flannery, Wilkin, Puletua.
Subs: Roby Clough, Fa'asavalu, Ashurst.
Harlequins: Wells, O'Callaghan, Gafa, Howell, Sharpe, Dorn, Orr, Temata, Randall, Heckenberg, Golden, Williamson, Purdham.
Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Clubb, Kaye, Grayshon.
Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens).
Attendance: 9, 359.