Leeds ran in 13 tries to crush Super League crisis club Celtic Crusaders 68-0 on Saturday and move above St Helens to the top of the table.

Just days after Crusaders stars Jace Van Dijk, Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn, Josh Hannay, Darren Mapp and Mark Dalle Cort were all ordered to be deported, the Welsh side were hit with another hammer blow.

Leeds thrashed Castleford 76-12 last week and with reserves filling the places of the deported Crusaders players, who are not allowed to work in the country, the hosts were already down 34-0 at the interval.

Brent Webb (four tries), Jamie Peacock (2), Keith Senior (2), Ryan Hall, Robert Burrow, Scott Donald, Matt Diskin and Jamie Jones-Buchanan all scored for Leeds with Kevin Sinfield kicking eight goals.

On Friday, St Helens came from 10-0 down to edge Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield 12-10.

Saints were staring at a third consecutive defeat after Huddersfield scored two tries in the first eight minutes, but winger Francis Meli rescued the leaders with a 64th-minute try.

With an eye on next Saturday's Wembley final with Warrington, Huddersfield left out 11 members of the side that knocked Mick Potter's team out of the Challenge Cup a fortnight ago, but the gamble looked to have paid off as they led 10-4 at half-time with tries from Leroy Cudjoe and Shaun Lunt.

Former Australian Test centre Matt Gidley and Ade Gardner scored Saints' other tries.

Wakefield made sure of their play-off place with a 40-28 victory at Warrington.

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