Super League: Jonny Lomax scores hat-trick in St Helens' defeat of Bradford
Jonny Lomax ran in a hat-trick of tries as St Helens thrashed Bradford 36-10 in the Super League at Odsal.
Last Updated: 23/02/13 5:25pm
The result helped Saints banish memories of a 12-8 defeat in the corresponding match last March which cost Royce Simmons his job.
It also sets Nathan Brown's team up nicely for next Friday's clash with champions Leeds at Langtree Park.
Brown's decision to switch Lomax from scrum-half to full-back in the absence of injured skipper Paul Wellens proved to be a particularly inspired move.
He opened the scoring with his first try after only two minutes after Jon Wilkin's kick had set up a repeat set of tackles.
Willie Manu added a second - his first for the club - five minutes later, breaking through the first line of defence and wrong-footing full-back Brett Kearney, and it was quickly 16-0 when prop Anthony Laffranchi took James Roby's short pass to crash over.
Unable to get a foothold in the game, it got worse for Bradford when Lomax took Wilkin's pass and jinked his way past flat-footed defenders for his second try on 23 minutes.
A first penalty to the home side after 30 minutes brought the biggest cheer from the frustrated Bulls fans and Bradford eventually began to ask a few questions of the St Helens defence.
Centre Matty Blythe squandered a glorious chance and scrum-half Jarrod Sammut was close to touching down Jamie Langley's kick, but Saints extended their lead to 26-0 by half-time when prop Tony Puletua twisted and turned his way out of a three-man tackle to plant the ball on the line.
Kearney scored a try for the Bulls soon after the re-start before Lomax touched down for his hat-trick and Gary Wheeler kicked his fourth goal.
Ade Gardner marked his first appearance of the season with the visitors' sixth try to complete the rout, before Elliot Kear ran in a late consolation try for the hosts converted by former St Helens favourite Jamie Foster.
