WINGER Kyle Feldt scored four tries as St Helens bolstered their Super League play-off ambitions with a 46-4 humbling of crisis club Salford.

Saints ran in a total of nine tries in a one-sided encounter at the Salford Community Stadium as the hosts, who are still operating under salary-cap restrictions amid ongoing ownership uncertainty, suffered their 13th defeat in 14 matches.

St Helens coach Paul Wellens had said the next month was “pretty important” as the club, starting the game in sixth place, look to extend their proud record of qualifying for every play-off since 1962.

And they could not have asked for an easier start to that spell as when these two clubs met in round one Saints racked up Super League’s biggest winning margin with an 82-0 victory.

So the omens were not good when boos rang out after just three minutes as Curtis Sironen broke through for Saints’ first score.

Feldt, who also kicked two conversions, collected a Tristan Sailor pass out wide to make it 10-0 and then Alex Walmsley brushed off a couple of weak tackles for the third try inside 12 minutes.

When Feldt dived in at the same corner to touchdown one-handed in the 26th minute another potentially record-breaking defeat looked on the cards.

However, Super League’s bottom side found some resilience and gained a minor foothold, with the biggest cheer of the first half coming for Sam Hill’s brilliant break down the right.

But with the home side finally in a good position Ryan Brierly’s knock on squandered the opportunity.

Salford’s improvement continued until 14 minutes into the second half when Harry Robertson added the fifth try, quickly followed by Feldt diving in for his hat-trick.

Frustrations then boiled over but, surprisingly, it was Saints’ Walmsley who was fortunate to escape without punishment after throwing an arm into the face of at Matty Foster after taking issue with his tackle.

Robertson went over for his second try, winger Owen Dagnell scored on his full Super League debut and the final say looked like going to Feldt before Hill dived over in the final minute to give the long-suffering home fans something to cheer.

Salford’s woes weren’t helped, according to head coach Paul Rowley, by Sam Stone’s decision to “down tools” and refuse to play.

Rowley was only able to name 17 players for the 46-4 humbling at home after the Australian back-rower – linked with a move to Warrington – made himself unavailable.

“He has been talking to another club since pre-season and now he is fit I guess that move can start to take shape,” said Rowley, whose side are operating under a salary cap among ongoing ownership uncertainty and face a winding-up petition from HMRC later this month due to unpaid bills.

“Yesterday he downed tools, which makes it a difficult position for us and certainly made today difficult.

“I’m fully understanding of everyone’s thresholds and tolerance but the situation of that yesterday put us in a bit of strife.

“The manner of it is not good. There is a way of doing things and that is not the way.

“Everyone has to look after themselves and I would facilitate [the move] but I think if you make a decision which hurts your team-mates it is not a good decision.”