Game

Bradford Bulls vs St Helens

REPORT

Paul Wellens scored four tries as St Helens proved that there is life after Sean Long as they produced a devastating display to beat the Bradford Bulls 06-38 at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

Eyebrows were raised when the Saints allowed Long to join Hull FC in the winter, and those concerns seemed to be well placed as he condemned his former employers to a humiliating 32-12 opening-night defeat last weekend.

But Mick Potter’s men responded in the champion style that has become synonymous with them through the summer era, although their cause was helped by an often poor display from the hosts who have failed to justify their heavy winter investment.

Steve McNamara’s side were beaten by Huddersfield Giants in their opening match and were found to be off the pace here, missing numerous tackles and failing to apply and complete any serious pressure to the Saints defence as the visitors cut loose.

Despite missing Keiron Cunningham on what would have been his 500th career appearance because of a family bereavement, the Saints were quick out of the blocks and could have scored two early tries were it not for handling errors from Jonny Lomax and Francis Meli.

It did not take too long for them to hit the front though, with Jon Wilkin running under the posts with 12 minutes gone after Wellens had broken through and held up a pass for him.

Eastmond slotted the conversion and a penalty three minutes later, before Wellens got the first of his four tries when he ran on the inside of Leon Pryce and collected the stand-off’s superb offload to score with ease.

Things got even worse for the Bulls before half-time, when a needless handling error from the otherwise lively hooker Heath L’Estrange gifted St Helens possession 20 metres out, allowing Pryce and Wellens to combine in a similarly devastating manner.

Bradford probed hard for an opening after the restart but their bubble burst seven minutes in when Matt Orford’s pass was intercepted by Eastmond who raced 90 metres to score, before adding the conversion.

There was an obvious improvement in Bradford’s attack, though, but when they did forge a route to the line Wayne Godwin failed to take in Nick Scruton’s offload under the posts and four points went begging.

Saints did outstandingly well to survive six-successive sets camped in the own half and then sapped any resistance Bradford may have had left with a stunning length-of-the-field move that led to Wellens bringing up his hat-trick.

Wilkin’s break initially set James Roby clear and, after the ball was put through the hands of Lomax, Meli, Scott Moore and Tony Puletua, Wellens bounced over the line to score.

The full-back then brought about the second four-try haul of his career with nine minutes remaining, somersaulting over the line to rub salt in Bradford’s wounds, although Orford did add a consolation try and goal in the final minute.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

Bradford head coach Steve McNamara is refusing to panic having seen his much-changed line-up lose their opening two fixtures of the 2010 campaign.

"We were way off the mark, particularly in the first half. Saints were hot and Leon Pryce played as well as I have seen him play."

"There were a lot of things that looked rusty. It wasn't a great performance at all. Maybe it was part of a process we need to go through as a group to get to where we want to get to."

"We weren't at the races. We expected to perform better but there were obviously reasons for that and we need to rectify that."

While admitting it was a tough day at the office for his players, McNamara was quick to praise St Helens for an "electrifying" attacking display.

"We started okay but then Saints hit us with a whirlwind," he added.

"I thought their offensive play at times was electrifying. They played with a lot more intensity with the ball than we did."

"I'd like to think we'll sit here in five days' time with a different situation. We'll be strong and stay together, but quite possibly in the long run this process will make us a better team."

"It was a tough day at the office but we'll look forward to getting back next week."

Saints coach Mick Potter was delighted with the comprehensive victory, particularly after they had lost their season-opener at home to Hull.

"It was a very good win, a comprehensive one," he said. "I thought how we played defensively was the most pleasing thing after last week."

"It always feels good to run in points and I think the players will get some confidence out of what they did, they know that they can do it."

The Australian was delighted to see Pryce, who created two of Wellens' four scores, back to somewhere near his best form.

"It was good to see Paul score four and Leon involved in a few," he added. "We know what they can do but doing it is a different proposition."

"Leon was at his best for the first time since some time last season. It is a challenge for him to produce it every week but I think he's ready for a big season."