9:12pm Friday 13th June 2008
By Mike Critchley
Saints romped to an easy win over depleted Bulls, but they were given an early fright.
Bryn Hargreaves, who had never previously scored for Saints in 36 appearances, grabbed a hat-trick as Saints ran riot.
Bradford opened the scoring through wing Semi Tadulala after they were gifted a repeat set from a knock on on Saints line.
Saints then forced three consecutive penalties on the Bulls line, but their attacking spell ended when Meli threw a poor pass, which was intercepted.
Bulls, from a penalty, went the full length with a great pass from David Solomona unleashing Tadulala. With the defence stretched, the ball was switched right where Paul Sykes forced his way over.
Sykes again failed to add the touchline conversion, but Bulls had an unexpected 8-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Saints hit back, when for the thirs week running Maurie Fa'asavalu touched down with virtually his first touch of the ball.
Sean Long continued his fine kicking form to cut the deficit to two points.
Saints had another good attacking spell but unfortunately Meli Was unable to collect Long's delicate chip to the corner. Pryce fashioned another chance close to the line, but the supporting Lee Gilmour was unable to take the pass.
Bulls went back on the attack when Long had the ball stolen in a one on one tackle, and from that set Iestyn Harris just managed to touch the whitewash with the ball. The decision went to the video ref, who gave it the thumbs up, with Sykes adding the conversion to make it 14-6 on 27 minutes.
Saints had a game on their hands, but a fine half break and pass from James Roby sent Jon Wilkin charging over. Long again added the extras to make it 14-12 to the visitors.
Long's kick from his own 40 metre line went out on the full, and from the subsequent play Bulls won a penalty .
Long made amends with his tackle dislodging the ball from Sykes early in the set.
It gave Saints all the encouragement they needed and from a speculative Long kick on the last tackle, the ball was funnelled wide for Ste Tyrer to scoot in at the corner to put them in front for the first time five minutes before the break.
They added to that when, from another penalty, Saints cranked up the pressure before James Graham drove over on the stroke of half time. Long converted to make it 22-14 at half time.
Saints had a couple of opportunities at the start of the second half, but first they had to withstand a spell of sustained pressure on their own line.
Roby went close and then minutes later Paul Wellens grubber wide just evaded Meli It was only a matter of time before the try came, and Pryce took Roby's pass to use his blistering pace to cut through the heart of the Bulls defence. He had option either side, but opted for Wilkin on the inside who did the rest. Long goaled, but then Bulls countered from deep in their half when Ben Jeffries showed his pace to tear through the middle, finding wing Dave Halley who scored in the corner. Sykes goaled, and Bulls should have had another but for a stray Shontayne Hape pass when Saints' defence looked beaten again.
However, Saints pressed at the other end where unsung hero Bryn Hargreaves was rewarded with his first try in the red vee, crashing through under the sticks. Long goaled to make it 34-20 at three-quarter time.
Meli scored in the corner, after a spectacular flick on, but the referee called play back to give Saints a penalty. Referee Richard Silverwood finally lost patience with the Bulls and sin-binned Simon Finnigan in the next set. And from there Hargreaves showed that tries are like buses, adding his second from close range. Long's goal brought up the 40 point mark and the game was in the bag.
Saints cashed in on the now dispirited Bulls defence, with Roby running a good line to take Cunningham's pass to touch down by the posts with Long again making it a six pointer.
Saints were rampant, and Pryce beat Long to Paul Wellens' smart grubber to the line after fine play in the build up by Lee Gilmour to bring up the half century. Long's conversion was a formality.
Hargreaves then charged over to put the icing on the cake with his hat-trick score.
Saints: Wellens: Gardner, Tyrer, Talau, Meli; Pryce, Long; Graham , Cunningham, Hargreaves, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe. Subs: Roby, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Thompson Bulls: Platt: Halley, Evans, Hape, Tadulala,, Sykes; Jeffries: Vagana, Harris, Kopczak, Solomona, Finnigan, Langley. Subs: Feather, Cook, James, Carlile.
Att: 9,009
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