Super Saints smash Bulls

St Helens bounced back from their humbling at home to Hull on opening weekend with a 38-6 rout of Bradford on the road.

Paul Wellens scored four of the visitors' six tries at the Grattan Odsal Stadium as the beleagured Bulls were put to the sword in front of their own fans.

Kyle Eastmond also touched down as well as kicking seven goals, giving the scrum-half an impressive personal haul of 18 points.

The only response from Bradford came in the closing minute when Matt Orford marked his home debut with a try that he also converted.

Stuttering start

A second successive defeat at the outset of the 2010 season was not the start boss Steve McNamara would have had in mind, though, having made major changes to his playing squad in the winter months.

But while they had battled hard in a losing cause at Huddersfield last Friday, this time the Bulls were simply never at the races.

Perhaps smarting from their reverse against Sean Long's Airlie Birds, Saints turned on the style despite missing Keiron Cunningham on what would have been his 500th career appearance because of a family bereavement.

They could have scored twice before they eventually broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, Jon Wilkin galloping in underneath the uprights.

Eastmond, who has replaced the departed Long in the number seven shirt, slotted over the conversion and also added a penalty three minutes later.

Wellens then crossed twice to open up a sizeable gap, on both occasions the full-back being set free by passes from stand-off Leon Pryce.

To their credit Bradford did come out at the start of the second half looking to start a recovery - only to concede again just as they were looking dangerous.

Eastmond interception

An Orford pass was intercepted one-handed by Eastmond and the England international raced 90 metres away to score a try he also converted.

The Bulls saw a chance go begging when Wayne Godwin shelled Nick Scruton's offload under the posts, and not even six successive sets led to a try.

Saints showed them how it should be done with a stunning length-of-the-field move, started by a Wilkin break, that led to Wellens bringing up his hat-trick.

With nine minutes to go the same player grabbed another, completing the second four-try haul of his career in style by somersaulting over the line.

Orford did make sure the Bulls weren't shut-out right before the hooter, though it was hardly much of a consolation.