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 triumph over Bradford Bulls.


The hosts discovered themselves 12 points behind simply after the break, but eventually secured the points thanks to a Deon Cross try in the final 5 minutes.


Earlier scores 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 guys after Eliot Peposhi's termination.


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


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This was the very first Super League conference in 12 years for the 2 sides, who objected to the competition's Grand Final in 1999 and 2002, and proved to be a gripping struggle.


Wright's 3rd shot of the season put Saints in front early but the visitors responded remarkably to lead by the break.


A best 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 career look.


The Bulls made the additional male count, and went over again through Connor Wynne to extend the result in 6.


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


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


Tries in fast succession from Sironen and Sailor - the former verified following a review - brought the hosts back level and when Peposhi was dispatched moments later it looked as though there would only be one winner.


Feldt's rating definitely recommended it would be one-way traffic, only for the Bulls to make the most of a Saints sin-binning - this time for Joe Shorrock - and enter front when more through .


The Bradford backline stood strong for nearly 10 minutes, consisting of forcing the ball out of play 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 secure the win, and extend the Bulls' await an away success at Saints to 17 years.


St Helens head coach Paul Rowley:


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


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


"It's getting significantly tough with all the pieces in all the locations that we have actually got, but we are scoring some tries 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 are in Challenge Cup action next week.


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