Super League: Bradford Bulls 10-40 St Helens – Saints grand out strong win

Betfred Super League

Bradford (10) 10

Try: Steinway Aim: Atkin, Holly 2

St Helens (12) 40

Try: Douglas, Sironen, Welsby 2, Shorrocks, Hastings Aim: Hastings 8

St Helens came through a brutal contest with Bradford Bulls determined to move back into fourth position in the Super League.

They were quickly 10-2 behind after a Phoenix Steinwede try, but from there the visitors struggled to take control.

Tries to Jacob Douglas and Curtis Sironen put them in front at half-time, but they dominated after the restart with 28 unanswered points and further scores from Jack Welsby (2), Joe Shorrocks and Jackson Hastings, who scored 20 points from eight kicks.

The win moves Saints up two places in the table, level again with Wigan Warriors but with a lower points gap.

Fading after a good start, it was a third defeat in a row for Bradford, who finished 11th in their first year at this level.

It was Saints’ first visit to Odsal since 2014 and the home side responded by seeing a great name in rugby league at this famous old ground.

It made for a very physical start to a following Tough fighting game March at Brewdog Stadium.

Hastings scored an early goal for Saints before Shane Wright was booked for a late tackle on Chris Atkin.

With the Australian forward shut down for 10 minutes, Bradford scored 10 unanswered points, which Steinweid’s hard run to the line and a smart sidestep took him over the line.

It was the highest point for the Bulls as the visitors turned the scoreline around with two tries in the space of seven minutes.

Winger Douglas finished well in the left corner with a try to mark his debut, leaving a big hole in the backline and coming off injured.

Then second-rower Sironen, making his 100th St Helens appearance, proved unstoppable from close range as Paul Rowley’s side took the lead at the break.

That advantage was extended within minutes of the restart as Welsby got his hands on Hastings’ grubber kick before the ball went dead.

Shorrocks took advantage when his own little kick bounced kindly to dive. Hastings scored a try of his own after Harry Robertson parried Australia’s chipped kick to extend the lead to 20 points and effectively seal the win.

Welsby got his second try and St Helens’ sixth, but the match ended on a worrying note with a very serious injury to Bradford forward Will Gardiner, who required on-field treatment from both sets of medical teams before being carried off on a stretcher.