Saints 22 London Broncos 14 THE belief that Saints' ground has been no place for the faint-hearted this season rang true yet again at Knowsley Road on Friday. Second-placed Saints staged yet another late rescue act with two brilliant tries by skipper Chris Joynt and Steve Hall thwarting a determined challenge by Broncos, who led until the 70th minute.

Supporters fed on a diet of brilliant rugby and grinding intensity in the Bradford epic probably found this game an 'after the Lord Mayor's show' story, in lacking atmosphere before Saints' fightback -- including three try-saving tackles -- set up a cliffhanger.

However, it should be remembered that a home side still short of the injured Sean Long, Tommy Martyn, Paul Sculthorpe, Vila Matautia, John Stankevitch and Wayne McDonald, were further disrupted by leg damage to Kevin Iro.

As for London, they kept Saints at bay for 36 minutes after previously breaking the scoring stalemate, and continued to pose problems in a gallant bid for only their second success over the triple trophy holders.

Despite being without overseas stars such as Richie Barnett, Jason Hetherington and Tony Martin, London's tackling, completion rate and team spirit augurs well for play-off chances.

The man-of-the-match award went to Joynt, whose rafter-raising 50-yard touchdown had the popular side in raptures. David Fairleigh was the outstanding Saint, closely followed by Sonny Nickle, Peter Shiels and Mark Edmondson.

Coach Ian Millward gave stand-off Radney Bowker his debut from the bench in the last minute. Mick Higham, another former Hilton Parker, had far more opportunity to shine.

Paul Newlove and Nickle both went close to scoring as Saints hinted of carrying off where they left off against Bradford, but it proved a false dawn as the game assumed an aura of deadlock with London enjoying territorial advantage against a home side creating little in midfield.

The impasse was broken in the 32nd minute when Nigel Roy and Glen Air sent Denis Moran racing under the posts for Brett Warton to convert, but Saints quickly responded when Tony Stewart and Keiron Cunningham paved the way for Fairleigh to cross with Paul Wellens adding the goal.

A penalty goal by Warton when Shiels was guilty of ball-stealing allowed London a 8-6 lead at half-time.

They went further ahead on the restart when, after Iro failed to cover Jim Dymock's chip- through, Matt Toshack plunged over for Warton to convert.

Fully 15 minutes of sheer cut-and-thrust ensued before Cunningham, now at stand-off, and Joynt carved out a try for Newlove and reduced Saints' arrears to 14-10.

It was then that the grafting Tim Jonkers saved his side's bacon with a magnificent try-saving tackle on Air.

Ball-stealing saw Saints inch closer with a penalty by Wellens, before they took the lead for the first time when Higham's searing break and slick pass sent Joynt over. But Saints continued to live dangerously and were grateful for more latch-ditch tackling from Wellens on Toshack and Higham on Peter Lupton.

In stepped rising star Hall to demonstrate that - along with faultless fielding of bombs - sophisticated finishing skills are another string to his bow with a typical winger's try that sealed the issue and extended Saints' winning run to six games.

Ian Millward paid tribute to the multi-positional skills of his players in "hanging on in there". And he described Higham as "the best young hooker in the game.