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 record a hard-fought Super League success over Bradford Bulls.


The hosts found themselves 12 points behind simply after the break, however ultimately protected the points thanks to a Deon Cross try in the last 5 minutes.


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


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


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


Wright's third try of the season put Saints in front at an early stage however the visitors reacted brilliantly to lead by the break.


An ideal 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 to the sin bin in his 300th profession look.


The Bulls made the additional male count, and repeated through Connor Wynne to stretch the cause 6.


At the other end, Esan Marsters produced an excellent last-ditch take on 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 fast succession from Sironen and Sailor - the previous confirmed following a review - brought the hosts back level and when Peposhi was sent out off minutes later it looked as though there would only be one winner.


Feldt's score definitely recommended it would be one-way traffic, just for the Bulls to take advantage of a Saints sin-binning - this time for Joe Shorrock - and go in front again through Andy Ackers.


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


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 coach Paul Rowley:


"I believe we have actually got a bit of character in the group, so that's excellent to see. We all believe that's a non-negotiable, however it's not always apparent in all teams, so that box is ticked.


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


"It's getting significantly hard 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 see Castleford on Saturday, 14 March (18:00 GMT), while Bradford travel to Super League table-toppers Wigan Warriors on Friday, 13 March (20:00)