Switched to the centre berth in the absence of first choice Matt Gidley and Chris Dean, Chris Flannery and goal kicking teenage winger Jamie Foster – 10 years his junior – were two of the shining beacons in what was one of the home side's brightest performance of the season.

Flannery not only negated the threat of Leeds' wily old campaigner Keith Senior – one of the reasons he was drafted into the three quarter line – but still found time and space to create havoc at the other end of the park and crowned a five-star show with his fourth try of the campaign.

Foster, making his first-ever Super League appearance seven days after his Challenge Cup debut, once more showed his ice-cool goal kicking qualities, repeating his feat of the previous week against Toulouse by landing eight goals from eight attempts.

Coach Mick Potter was also quick to praise the input of the 29-year-old stand-in centre and the latest product to emerge from the Academy assembly line.

Potter said: "I thought Chris was excellent. It's great to have someone as versatile in your team.

"He can play stand-off, centre, back rower and tonight he had a class player like Senior to face but he got the better of him."

Of Foster's performance, Potter enthused: "Jamie spends a great deal of time concentrating on his kicking and it is one of his best attributes, but he is not a bad rugby league player, too.

"He also produced some tough and crucial plays in both defence and attack."

But this was far from just a two-man with every single player making a crucial contribution at some stage, including impressive hookers Keiron Cunnngham and his long-time understudy, James Roby.

All enabled Saints to cut the gap on leaders Wigan Warriors to just two points after the early pacesetters suffered a shock 38-26 home defeat at the hands of Harlequins 24 hours earlier.

"I thought our first 40 minutes was one of our best this season," said Potter.

"Leeds then came at us in the second half but I cannot fault our effort."

Understrength Saints had to recover from the early shock conceding a try within 60 seconds – Kyle Eastmond's kick off landing fractionally over the dead ball line and handing possession to Leeds.

It was an error they immediately punished as Ian Kirke sent Lee Smith over and skipper Kevin Sinfield goaled.

The video referee ruled out efforts by Cunningham and Flannery and also denied Ryan Hall a second Rhinos' try after 12 minutes before Saints, who had enjoyed a lion's share of the early possession, were rewarded with three tries before the interval.

Scott Moore grabbed the first in the 18th minute, cashing-in on fine support from Cunningham and Eastmond and leaving Foster to slot over the goal to bring the scores level.

Cunningham featured prominently in Saints' second try four minutes later, his slick short pass resulted in Tony Puletua storming in.
Foster landed his second goal and then increased Saints lead to 14-6 with a penalty before wrapping up the first-half scoring with his third conversion which followed substitute Roby's try from dummy half.

Roby also had a hand in Saints' opening try of the second half after 46 minutes, combining with Eastmond to send Flannery striding over.
Foster converted and within minutes Eastmond had landed a drop goal to give the hosts a 21 point cushion, but the visitors breathed new life into a game which appears to be slipping away by scoring twice in the 56th and 61st minutes through Brett Delaney and Hall – one of which Sinfield goaled.

It proved a false dawn as Saints responded with a 65th minute Foster penalty and two more tires in quick succession.

Substitute Matty Ashurst put the finishing touches to a clinical handling movement and then Cunningham set-up Roby for the sixth try.

Foster converted both before Rob Burrow replied for the title holders, racing almost the full length of the field to score in the left-hand corner.

Teams – Saints: Wellens, Gardner, Wheeler, Flannery. Foster, Moore, Eastmond, Graham, Cunningham. Hargreaves, Clough, Dixon, Puletua.
Subs: Fozzard, Roby, Ashurst, Fa'asavalu (all used).
Leeds Rhinos: Smith, Hall, Delaney, Senior, Bush, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Kirke, Sinfield.
Subs: Buderus, Peacock, Burgess, Ambler (all used).
Referee: Richard Silverwood.
Attendance: 11,048.