Sparkling Saints set standard for title pretenders

St Helens 46 Bradford Bulls

St Helens opened the Super League season by bouncing back in spectacular style from last week's humbling defeat to demonstrate that in the domestic game they are still the side to beat.

Both sides went in with some recent memories to erase, Bradford their last-minute defeat by Saints in last season's Grand Final, and Saints their thrashing by the Sydney Roosters in the World Club Challenge last week.

Their coach, Ian Millward, was still without his first choice full-back, Paul Wellens, and the absence of his stand in, Darren Albert, meant a call up for Anthony Stewart.

Despite those readjustments, Saints made a flying start to a half of sparkling rugby that matched anything they produced on their way to winning the title last season.

After applying early pressure, they made their breakthrough when Paul Sculthorpe kicked through on the last tackle for the ball to take a wicked bounce and allow Barry Warne to touch down for a try which Sean Long converted.

Bradford's response, with two swashbuckling attacks down the left that could have brought tries, instead yielded only two penalties. That was to be their only success of the half as Saints gave a clinical exhibition of finishing.

After 15 minutes, fingertip control from Sculthorpe as Paul Newlove put John Kirkpatrick over in the corner and, before Bradford could recover from that, Long's kick took another horrible bounce to leave them stranded for Sculthorpe to score.

A mere three minutes after that, a clever pass from Long sent the impressive Australian newcomer, Jason Hooper, racing away for the fourth St Helens try.

There was still time for it to get worst for a shell-shocked Bradford. Lesley Vainikola should have taken Long's high kick, but lost it under pressure from Hooper and Ade Gardner scored in the corner. With two more conversions and a penalty from Long, Saints were in a commanding position and one that made a mockery of predictions they are about to give up their supremacy lightly.

Bradford at least started the second half looking more purposeful, finally scoring their first try when Lee Radford connected with Deacon's well-judged kick.

It proved to be a false dawn. Saints hit back with a second try from Kirkpatrick, again the product of slick handling, and one from the substitute, Mick Higham. If the game had ever been within Bradford's reach, it had certainly been snatched away now, although their full-back, Leon Pryce, produced two moments of real quality for his tries to make the scoreline look marginally more respectful.

Even then Saints had the last word, Darren Britt getting a one-handed pass away for Sculthorpe to score the try his overall performance merited.

This was only the first round in what will be a series of battles between these two clubs this season, but it had gone comprehensively Saints way.

St Helens: Kirkpatrick, Gardner, Gleeson, Newlove, Stewart, Sculthorpe, Long, Britt, Hooper, Ward, Stankevitch, Joynt, Smith. Substitutes used: Bennett, Jonkers, Martyn, Higham.

Bradford: Pryce, Pratt, Naylor, Happe, Vainikolo, Paul, Deacon, Vagana, Lowes, Fielden, Gartner, Peacock, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Gilmour, Radford, Parker, Anderson.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).