St Helens Recover To Beat Spirited Bradford

192 Comments


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 triumph over Bradford Bulls.


The hosts discovered themselves 12 points behind simply after the break, however ultimately protected the points thanks to a Deon Cross try in the final five minutes.


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


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


Wigan subdue Toulouse to maintain 100% start


This was the first Super League meeting in 12 years for the two sides, who contested the competition's Grand Final in 1999 and 2002, and proved to be a gripping struggle.


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


A best grubber kick from Luke Hooley established Ethan Ryan to level ball games up, and Hooley then kicked his side in front after David Klemmer was sent out to the sin bin in his 300th career look.


The Bulls made the extra man count, and went over once again through Connor Wynne to stretch the result in 6.


At the other end, Esan Marsters produced an exceptional last-ditch take on to stop the hosts levelling things up.


A fantastic breakaway rating from Wynne gave the Bulls a 12-point lead quickly after the reboot, before the St Helens fightback started.


Tries in fast succession from Sironen and Sailor - the previous validated following an evaluation - brought the hosts back level and when Peposhi was sent moments later on it looked as though there would only be one winner.


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


The Bradford backline stood strong for nearly 10 minutes, the ball out of have fun with St Helens looking certain to score in the corner thanks to the work of 5 defenders.


Cross, nevertheless, slipped through in the closing stages to protect the win, and extend the Bulls' wait on an away success at Saints to 17 years.


St Helens head coach Paul Rowley:


"I think we've got a little character in the team, so that's great to see. All of us think that's a non-negotiable, however it's not constantly evident in all teams, so that box is ticked.


"I believe we have actually found a method to win in terms of we've got a scattering of how I 'd like us to play.


"It's getting significantly challenging with all the pieces in all the locations that we have actually 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 visit Castleford on Saturday, 14 March (18:00 GMT), while Bradford travel to Super League table-toppers Wigan Warriors on Friday, 13 March (20:00)