Super Saints blow by Bulls

Paul Sculthorpe returned from a lengthy lay-off to help St Helens defeat Bradford 22-16 at a windswept Grattan Odsal Stadium.

Saints made the most of a fast start to build a 16-0 lead before being forced to withstand a fierce Bulls comeback in the second half.

Paul Sykes bagged a brace for the hosts but it was not enough to turn the game around, Steve McNamara's troops suffering a second loss of the season and a first on home soil against Saints since 2005.

In the end, Keiron Cunningham's close range try in the 68th minute proved crucial as the visitors came out on top in a tussle of two teams who have won nine of the 12 Super League titles since the switch to summer rugby.

Returning hero

Saints coach Daniel Anderson will be particularly delighted to see Sculthorpe back in action after yet another long spell on the sidelines.

Almost a year on from his man-of-the-match display in the World Club Challenge win over Brisbane, the former Great Britain skipper came off the bench to boost a depleted pack that lost Nick Fozzard with a knee injury.

By the time he came on his team-mates had already warmed to the task on a cold night with James Graham scoring their opening try inside five minutes.

The Great Britain forward grabbed his first of the campaign from Paul Wellens' pass, getting the benefit of any doubt over a double movement from the television official.

Winger Ade Gardner added a second soon after, latching onto Matt Gidley's long pass to canter in on the right.

A shocking error by James Evans, whose attempts to trap the ball only resulted in it slipping under his boot and out for a St Helens scrum, eventually resulted with Lee Gilmour galloping over.

Evans did manage to atone for his error with a try before the break, though he owed a great debt of thanks to former Bull Leon Pryce for setting up the opportunity.

The stand-off's shoulder charge off the ball on Sam Burgess was retribution for a hard, but legal, hit the Bulls forward had handed out to Saints sub Gareth Frodsham that left the youngster seeing stars and unable to play any further part in the contest.

The touch judge caught sight of Pryce's cheap shot and the resulting penalty saw Bradford get their first points four minutes before half time.

Crucial try

Deacon failed to add the extras but the late score to make it 16-4 at the break was crucial for the hosts, who then went on to score straight after the re-start.

An excellent kick-and-chase at the end of the first set of six led to Wellens being trapped in his in-goal area.

From the resulting drop out Bradford worked their way forward to get Sykes over out wide for his third try since returning to Odsal in the off-season.

Deacon's conversion from the touchline cut the gap down to six and it seemed the momentum, as well as the strong wind, was now behind Bradford.

However, St Helens showed great resilience in defence to stand firm under pressure before going up the other end to clinch the game.

A professional foul by Michael Platt gave Long the chance to kick two points and also meant the Bradford full-back was sent to the sin-bin.

With their opponents down to 12 Saints moved further clear with a typical Cunningham finish from close range that saw him fight off three tacklers to get the ball down over the line.

To their credit the Bulls did not give in, with Sykes completing his brace, though his second in the closing minutes was no more than a very late consolation that Deacon converted.