St Helens Recover To Beat Spirited Bradford

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St Helens (4) 26


Tries: Wright, Sironen, Sailor, Feldt, Cross Goals: Hastings


Bradford (10) 22


Tries: Ryan, Wynne 2, Ackers Goals: Hooley


St Helens recuperated from an early second-half deficit to tape-record a hard-fought Super League victory over Bradford Bulls.


The hosts discovered themselves 12 points behind just after the break, however ultimately secured the points thanks to a Deon Cross attempt in the last 5 minutes.


Earlier ratings from Shane Wright, Curtis Sironen, Tristan Sailor and Kyle Feldt helped see off the Bulls, who played the bulk of the 2nd half with 12 men after Eliot Peposhi's dismissal.


A 3rd straight win moves Saints level on points with second-place Warrington, while Bradford remain 5th having actually won two and lost 2 of their very first 4 video games back in the leading tier.


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This was the very first Super League conference in 12 years for the 2 sides, who contested the competitors's Grand Final in 1999 and 2002, and showed to be a gripping battle.


Wright's 3rd try of the season put Saints in front early however the visitors responded brilliantly to lead by the break.


An ideal grubber kick from Luke Hooley established Ethan Ryan to level the ratings up, and Hooley then kicked his side in front after David Klemmer was sent to the sin bin in his 300th profession look.


The Bulls made the extra male count, and went over again through Connor Wynne to stretch the cause 6.


At the other end, Esan Marsters produced an outstanding last-ditch tackle to stop the hosts levelling things up.


A wonderful breakaway score from Wynne offered the Bulls a 12-point lead soon after the reboot, before the St Helens fightback started.


Tries in quick succession from Sironen and Sailor - the former confirmed following a review - brought the hosts back level and when Peposhi was sent minutes later on it looked as though there would just be one winner.


Feldt's rating certainly suggested it would be one-way traffic, just for the Bulls to benefit from a Saints sin-binning - this time for Joe Shorrock - and go in front once again through Andy Ackers.


The Bradford backline stood strong for almost 10 minutes, including forcing the ball out of have fun with St Helens looking particular to score in the corner thanks to the work of five defenders.


Cross, however, slipped through in the closing phases to protect the win, and extend the Bulls' await an away success at Saints to 17 years.


St Helens head coach Paul Rowley:


"I think we have actually got a little bit of character in the team, so that's excellent to see. All of us believe that's a non-negotiable, however it's not always obvious in all teams, so that box is ticked.


"I think we have actually discovered a way to win in terms of we have actually got a of how I 'd like us to play.


"It's getting significantly challenging with all the pieces in all the locations that we've got, but we are scoring some shots and digging deep."


St Helens: Sailor; Feldt, MacDonald, Cross, Murphy; Whitby, Hastings; Delaney, Clark, Klemmer; Sironen, Wright, Shorrocks


Interchanges: Host, Robertson, Whitley, Stephens


Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan; Hooley, Milnes; Chamberlain, Mellor, Fulton; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis


Interchanges: Doro, Douglas, Hallas, Peposhi


What's Next?


Both of these teams remain in Challenge Cup action next week.


St Helens go to Castleford on Saturday, 14 March (18:00 GMT), while Bradford travel to Super League table-toppers Wigan Warriors on Friday, 13 March (20:00)