First Utility Super League: St Helens far too good for Bradford Bulls
St Helens moved back to within a point of Super League leaders Leeds by hammering struggling Bradford 50-0 at Odsal.
Last Updated: 11/05/14 5:42pm
Luke Walsh scored a try and kicked seven goals from nine attempts as Saints demonstrated the yawning gulf in class between the opposite ends of the table with a comprehensive nine-try display.
The visitors touched down four times in the first half and added five more tries in the second.
The relegation-threatened Bulls ended a dismal run of eight straight Super League defeats with battling recent cup and league victories over Catalans and Warrington but this result plunges them back into deep trouble as Wakefield, Salford and Hull KR - the sides immediately above them prior to the weekend - all picked up vital points.
The Bulls actually created the first threating position on the back of two successive penalties but it was the early season league leaders who almost scored the initial try after a Walsh kick caused confusion in the home defence.
It was following a Matt Dawson break, hauled down 20 metres short by stand-in full-back Elliot Kear, that Saints began their ruthless onslaught - the next play resulting in Jon Wilkin going over for the opening try.
Heavy traffic
Walsh added the conversion from out wide on the left and Mose Masoe nearly added a second but lost control trying to get through heavy traffic to the line.
Just before the half hour mark Lance Hohaia dummied his way clear and Walsh was up in support to score and convert to double the advantage.
Just three minutes later a Walsh chip was patted back by Tom Makinson for Jonny Lomax to claim and ground, although Walsh's kick drifted in the blustery wind onto the post and out.
Antonio Kaufusi and Jay Pitts combined to put Adam O'Brien within half a yard of claiming Bradford's first try but Saints held firm and 45 seconds before the break, Walsh sent Wilkin dashing through between the posts to leave the Lancashire side 22-0 in front and almost home and dry.
Tom Makinson's 14th Super League try of the season set the scoreboard in motion five minutes after the restart Saints other winger Adam Swift was next to cross after some fast handling and a fine dummy and supply pass from Hohaia.
As rain began to pour down Wilkin was denied a hat-trick on the hour by a posse of defenders who managed to hold him up but there was nothing the Bulls defence could do to stop Walsh sending Soliola over just afterwards.
This time the woodwork aided Walsh as the touchline conversion bounced in off of the upright.
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and James Roby added further tries in the last 10 minutes to hoist the half century.
