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 recovered from an early second-half deficit to record a hard-fought Super League triumph over Bradford Bulls.


The hosts found themselves 12 points behind simply after the break, but ultimately secured the points thanks to a Deon Cross attempt 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 guys after Eliot Peposhi's termination.


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


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


third try of the season put Saints in front early but the visitors responded remarkably to lead by the break.


An ideal grubber kick from Luke Hooley set up 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 profession look.


The Bulls made the extra guy count, and repeated through Connor Wynne to extend the cause 6.


At the other end, Esan Marsters produced an outstanding desperate deal with to stop the hosts levelling things up.


A terrific breakaway score from Wynne provided the Bulls a 12-point lead shortly after the reboot, before the St Helens fightback started.


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


Feldt's rating definitely 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 once more through Andy Ackers.


The Bradford backline stood strong for nearly 10 minutes, including requiring the ball out of play with St Helens looking particular to score in the corner thanks to the work of five protectors.


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


St Helens head coach Paul Rowley:


"I believe we've got a little bit of character in the group, so that's great to see. We all think that's a non-negotiable, however it's not always evident in all groups, so that box is ticked.


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


"It's getting increasingly hard with all the pieces in all the locations that we have actually got, however 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 are 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)