REPORT | |
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MATCH NOTES : SAINTS chalked up their 16th consecutive away win and set a new Super League record with a superb 44-18 win over Bradford Bulls at the Odsal Stadium. |
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COACH : Mick Potter(2009-01-01 : 2010-12-31 ) |
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : SAINTS chalked up their 16th consecutive away win and a new Super League record with a superb 44-18 win over Bradford Bulls at Odsal. 14-4 down after 10 minutes they fought back with some clinical attacking play and once in front never looked like relinquishing their stunning run of form. A try from Francis Meli gave the Saints an early lead before they overturned a 10 point deficit to lead 28-14 at half time. James Roby and Chris Flannery were the architects, the former opening up the Bulls’ defence with strong runs and line passes whilst the latter made and scored two crucial scores. But creditwas also due to Kyle Eastmond in that second 20 minute spell which saw four tries that completely changed the reflection of the game. The second half was a lot tighter and very scrappy but Saints defence did what it had to; whilst Maurie Fa’asavalu and Tony Puletua sealed the win with a characteristic runs in the final ten minutes. Mick Potter made a number of changes to the side that beat Castleford the previous week. Jon Wilkin partnered Leon Pryce in the half backs following Sean Long’s late withdrawal with a calf injury. That meant Kyle Eastmond and Chris Dean were brought into the team. Lee Gilmour started at loose forward. Dave Halley was named at full back for Bradford whilst the evergreen Steve Menzies started at centre. Saints got off to a superb start when on the third tackle of Bradford’s first set, strong defence forced the Bulls into touch.That meant a set early doors within striking distance of the line and Francis Meli made no mistake in putting them ahead. The ball went through hands of Cunningham and Eastmond before Leon Pryce fired a line ball over to Meli who went over in the corner. Eastmond just wide with the extras. But Bradford hit back almost immediately when Paul Deacon saw Glen Morrison running a nice line. Deacon with the conversion. On 10 minutes the Bulls went further ahead when a ball that clearly went forward ended up in the arms of Menzies who had the simple task of feeding Rikki Sheriffe for his first of the game. The try was converted, off the post, by Paul Deacon. It was a massive slice of luck and gave the home side a commanding early lead. On 18 minutes four penalties in a row put the Bulls in prime territory again and on the last of the quartet, Deacon opted to go for goal and stretched the lead further. Four minutes later, Ben Jeffries was adjudged to have knocked on in the build up to a Deacon no try. But Saints weren’t going to be denied much longer. They had cleared from their own try line twice in as many minutes. Persistent ball handling then opened up gaps and it was no surprise when James Roby popped over for his fifth of the season. Eastmond with the conversion. And a few minutes later, Jon Wilkin touched down Chris Flannery’s pinpoint kick. Eastmond putting his charges ahead once more. That try came again on the back of some superb handling and the ability to keep the ball alive when under pressure, involving smart play from Chris Flannery instinct producing the right play at the right time. On the stroke of half time a quick line pass from Roby saw Flannery in. And it got better as on 40 minutes, the ball was kept alive once more this time by Fa asavalu, and Eastmond made no mistake. Both tries were converted by Kyle as he took his season kick tally to 20 goals. Half Time: Bradford 14 Saints 28 Bradford applied the majority of the pressure early in the second half, but Saints’ defence was very keen on its own line. But Saints had their moments in a tight opening 10 minutes, Paul Clough in particular just losing the ball as he went over the line. On 62 minutes the Bulls brought themselves right back into it. Once again, Ben Thaler punished Saints down the middle and when the ball went left, Semi Tadulala reduced the deficit. Deacon wide with the conversion attempt.Nine minutes later Pryce pinned the Bulls in their own 20 with a pinpoint grubber and chase. It was a position the Bulls never recovered from. Saints forced an error and Fa |
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