St Helens (30) 62 Tries: Hardman 2, P Anderson, Wellens, Gardner, Hooper 2, Long 2, Wilkin, Albert, Graham Goals: Long 7 York (0) 0

Saints ran in six tries before half-time and doubled their tally after the interval without breaking sweat.

Sean Long finished with 22 points after scoring a try in each half and kicking seven out of 12 conversions.

There were also two tries apiece from teenage winger Ian Hardman and stand-off Jason Hooper.

Around 2,500 angry Saints fans staged a sit-down protest after the match to call for the re-instatement of Millward.

They also held up posters of Millward, who has been suspended for allegedly swearing at officials, throughout the match and chanted "sack the board".

Millward, awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, was absent from Knowsley Road.

Dave Rotheram, placed in temporary charge, admitted the charged atmosphere had added to the occasion.

"It was a great atmosphere for players to play in, especially the York lads who won't have experienced that before," he said.

"It's the first time we've 'nilled' a team for two years and I thought the boys showed great attitude.

"York put us under pressure but Keiron Cunningham led the way with some superb tackles and he harassed their kickers."

St Helens: Wellens, Hardman, Albert, Gilmour, Gardner, Hooper, Long, P. Anderson, Cunningham, Mason, Wilkin, Bennett, Sculthorpe. Replacements: Higham, Edmondson, Fa'asavalu, Graham.

York: Liddell, Blaymire, Potter, Law, Fox, Rhodes, Levy, Smith, Jackson, Sullivan, Callaghan, Kirke, Patterson. Replacements: Elston, Ramsden, Bates, Sozi.

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield)