Sullivan's season opens with hat-trick

ROUND-UP

ROUND-UP

St Helens kicked off the Stones Centenary Championship campaign with a stylish 55-10 defeat of Bradford Bulls at Knowsley Road yesterday.

Anthony Sullivan crossed for a second-half hat-trick of tries as St Helens overwhelmed Bradford, new nickname and all.

Another winger, Francis Cummins, also scored three tries, and added three goals as Leeds, runners-up to Wigan in three competitions last season, beat Sheffield 34-6.

Oldham looked set for victory at Castleford when they led 16-2 with less than 25 minutes to go and home players Lee Crooks and Colin Maskill sin- binned. But Tony Smith scored two tries to level the scores, and although Oldham nosed back in front, two tries in the last nine minutes from Jason Flowers and Simon Middleton clinched Castleford's win.

In the First Division Doug Laughton celebrated his return to Naughton Park as Widnes crushed Dewsbury 48-6. Adrian Hadley collected 20 points with two tries and six goals, while Lee Ashton was another who scored three tries.