ST HELENS 26 BRADFORD BULLS 22
MARK TAYLOR, Brewdog Stadium, Saturday

DEON CROSS scored with only four minutes left on the clock to rescue St Helens against a determined Bradford side which had led for large parts of the game.

Bradford had battled back from 20-16 down, having themselves led 16-4 at the start of the second half as these two giants of the Super League era slugged it out in an enthralling clash which evoked memories of classic encounters.

A 54th-minute red card for Bradford’s Eliot Peposhi had looked like being the defining moment of a see-saw second half, but there were plenty more twists and turns in a dramatic finish.

Shane Wright gave Saints an early lead, going over from short range after taking Daryl Clark’s pass at dummy-half. A break from Nene Macdonald on the opposite flank had created the chance, with Bradford struggling to get reorganize their defensive line.

Jackson Hastings thought he’d converted successfully but the officials disagreed.

A penalty for obstruction took Bradford upfield and a perfectly placed kick to the corner by Rowan Milnes was grounded by Ethan Ryan for a try in the twelfth minute. Milnes was unable to convert.

Saints were temporarily reduced to twelve men in the 18th minute for a high tackle by David Klemmer, playing in his 300th career game, on Bradford hooker Andy Ackers, and Luke Hooley kicked the goal to give Bradford a 6-4 lead.

The Bulls took further advantage of their extra man with Milnes’ looping pass to the wing taken by Connor Wynne, who finished in acrobatic style at the corner.

Hooley was unable to add the goal from the touchline but a 10-4 lead was no more than Bradford deserved.

Moments before half-time, a brilliant tackle by Esan Marsters forced Lewis Murphy into touch within touching distance of the tryline.

The home fans would have been within their rights to expect a flying start to the second half but instead they were left to admire a stunning try from Bradford which spanned 80 metres.

Wynne made a surging run from deep inside his own half and after swapping passes with Marsters he was there to score in the corner. Hooley’s goal gave Bradford a 16-4 lead.

Saints responded with two tries in three minutes to wipe that out in the blink of an eye. A short Clark pass from dummy-half was taken by Curtis Sironen and he got the ball down from a metre out. Hastings also added the conversion.

If that try was about raw power, Saints’ next score showed real craft as a move from the scrum saw Tristan Sailor take a pass from Hastings and his arcing run took him to the corner for a try which Hastings converted to make it 16-16.

The momentum swing was complete in when Peposhi was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Saints’ George Delaney.

The twelve men were soon exposed as Sailor’s floated pass to the corner found Kyle Feldt in space and he finished off in style. Hastings was unable to add the conversion but at 20-16, Saints led for the first time since the 14th minute.

But Bradford’s spirit was indefatigable and they were given further encouragement in the 64th minute went Saints were also reduced to twelve. Joe Shorrocks was penalised for a dangerous tackle near the halfway line and was sent to the sinbin.

Having been starved of quality possession for much of the second half, Bradford who have not won in St Helens since 2009, made the most of the opportunity. Having worked hard to get with sight of the Saints tryline, hooker Andy Ackers spied a gap and held off three defenders to score a try which Hooley converted to give Bradford a 22-20 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

But it was Saints boss Paul Rowley who had the final word against his former assistant, Bradford coach Kurt Haggerty, with Cross going in at the corner with four minutes remaining and Hastings adding the goal.

GAMESTAR: Rowan Milnes was superb for Bradford, especially in the first half, with his kicking game on point.

GAMEBREAKER: Deon Cross’ try got St Helens out of jail.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Connor Wynne scored two superb but very different tries, showcasing his value to the Bulls.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Rowan Milnes (Bradford)
2 pts Noah Stephens (St Helens)
1 pt Connor Wynne (Bradford)

MATCHFACTS

SAINTS
6 Tristan Sailor
2 Kyle Feldt
25 Nene Macdonald
5 Deon Cross
20 Lewis Murphy
17 George Whitby
31 Jackson Hastings
13 David Kelmmer
9 Daryl Clark
15 George Delaney
11 Curtis Sironen
12 Shane Wright
22 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
3 Harry Robertson
14 Jacob Host
16 Matt Whitley
21 Noah Stephens
18th man (used)
24 Owen Dagnall
Also in 21-man squad
4 Mark Percival
18 Jake Wingfield
28 Jake Davies

Tries: Wright (7), Sironen (47), Sailor (50), Feldt (55), Cross (76)
Goals: Hastings 3/5
Sin bin: Klemmer (18) – high tackle; Shorrocks (64) – dangerous tackle

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
23 Connor Wynne
3 Esan Marsters
4 Waqa Blake
5 Ethan Ryan
22 Luke Hooley
7 Rowan Milnes
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
10 Loghan Lewis
17 Ed Chamberlain
12 Zac Fulton
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
15 Eribe Doro
20 Brandon Douglas
21 Sam Hallas
25 Eliot Peposhi
18th man (not used)
30 Leon Ruan
Also in 20-man squad
14 Mitch Souter
24 Guy Armitage

Tries: Ryan (14), Wynne (22, 43), Ackers (65)
Goals: Milnes 0/1, Hooley 3/4
Dismissal: Peposhi (54) – high tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 4-10; 4-16, 10-16, 16-16, 20-16, 20-22, 26-22

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Saints: Noah Stephens; Bulls: Rowan Milnes

Penalty count: 4-5
Half-time: 4-10
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 12,031