Classic match, St Helens' Paul Wellens tames Bradford Bulls

PAUL Wellens grabbed four tries as Saints emphatically slayed the Bulls 38-6 at Odsal.

Saints were always in control – and the margin could have been even wider had they not had to spend a good chunk of the second half without the ball.

(All pictures by Bernard Platt)

Even more remarkably Bulls only broke the Saints line with 44 seconds left on the clock The game was a breath of fresh air for Saints and their hardcore followers Saints came into the game looking to bounce back from the previous week’s disappointing start at home to Hull.

Francis Meli returned from his compassionate leave and his return allowed young Gary Wheeler to move off the flank and show his skills at centre.

Teenager Jonny Lomax occupied the right flank in place of the injured Ade Gardner.

Saints’ other change saw Keiron Cunningham replaced at short notice by Scott Moore – and he appeared to relish the opportunity.

Although his obviously lacks Cunningham’s physical presence, Moore offered a little more movement and variety from dummy half, which probably caught Bulls off guard.

(All pictures by Bernard Platt)

It was a much more enterprising side that attacked from the opening whistle, with support play up the middle a huge improvement on what was served up last week.

Saints very nearly scored after two minutes but after stretching Bulls, Jon Wilkin’s floated, cut out pass was too high for Lomax and sailed into touch.

Saints then had to withstand some Bradford pressure, with Paul Wellens pulling off a super tackle on the advancing Jamie Langley. A dangerous Bradford kick was then expertly defused by Wheeler behind the line.

It did not take long for Saints to finally breach the home line with Tony Puletua, Leon Pryce combining to send Wilkin steaming between the posts on 12 minutes.

Eastmond slotted the goal and four minutes later hoofed over a penalty from in front of the posts.

On the quarter mark Eastmond’s probe, after Meli had been ankle tapped on the left, unlocked Bulls again. Pryce was up in support and he offloaded to Wellens, who did the rest. Eastmond goaled and then on 28 minutes the same combination worked again, with Wellens taking Pryce’s pass to scoot in.

Home boos greeted the half time hooter with Saints well on top at 20-0.

Saints stretched that lead to 26-0 when Matt Orford’s wayward pass was snaffled up by Eastmond, the fastest man on their books, and he raced 80 metres to touch down.

(All pictures by Bernard Platt)

He took a breather then slotted the extras to effectively kill off any chance of a Bulls recovery.

Bulls had ten minutes more or less camped on Saints line, but were kept out with some desperation, 0-0 tackling.

In the first real chance with the ball Saints tore back into them with Wilkin, Roby and Lomax combining to send Wellens in for his hat-trick. Eastmond continued his perfect afternoon with the boot to make it 32-0.

After Bulls were penalised for offside, Saints pressed again and a tap from Pryce to Wilkin saw Gidley send Wellens in for his fourth. Again Eastmond goaled from a difficult position to send more Bulls fans streaming for the exit.

Bulls finally scored just before final hooter, when after a succession of penalties and repeat set, Matt Orford slid over and goaled himself.

(All pictures by Bernard Platt)

Bradford: Halley; Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon; Keraney, Orford; Scruton, L’Eastrange, Lynch, Lynch, Langley, Whitehead, Menzies. Subs: Godwin, Worrincy, Kopczak, Hall.

Saints: Wellens; Lomax, Gidley, Wheeler, Meli; Pryce, Eastmond; Fozzard, Moore, Graham, Flannery, Wilkin, Puletua. Subs: Roby, Clough, Fa’asavalu, Hargreaves.