St Helens run riot as Bulls pay the Pryce

<preform>BRADFORD 4 </br> ST HELENS&#009;66</preform>

Saints ran away with a match hopelessly distorted by Leon Pryce becoming only the third Super League player to be sent off this season. They were already looking the better side before Pryce's dismissal in the 28th minute but, after that. the visitors were unstoppable as they got rid of much of the bad taste lingering from last year's "weakened team" fiasco at Odsal.

Saints ran away with a match hopelessly distorted by Leon Pryce becoming only the third Super League player to be sent off this season. They were already looking the better side before Pryce's dismissal in the 28th minute but, after that. the visitors were unstoppable as they got rid of much of the bad taste lingering from last year's "weakened team" fiasco at Odsal.

Saints started with an example of their famous ability to keep the ball alive in opposition territory, Keiron Cunningham and Vinnie Anderson sending Jon Wilkin over for the game's first try after two minutes.

Bradford were struggling to contain Cunningham and he got free again to set up their second try - linking up once more with Anderson to send him through a huge gap.

The Bulls got back into the game when Iestyn and Ben Harris combined to put Stuart Reardon in at the corner but the character of the game changed completely when the Bulls had Pryce sent off for a high tackle on his opposite number, Jamie Lyon.

Almost immediately, Maurie Fa'asavalu brushed through Jamie Peacock's tackle and Lee Gilmour was in for the third Saints try.

Matters were temporarily evened up when Willie Talau was sin-binned for persistent holding down, but Saints went further ahead when Lyon created a second for Wilkin just before half-time.

Saints ran riot in the second half with further tries from Long, Lyon with two, Anderson, Ade Gardner and James Roby.

Not even the lack of a full complement of players was an excuse for some of Bradford's defence, as they were repeatedly ripped apart, with Anderson completing his hat-trick and Gardner confirming their punishment near the end.

Bradford: Paul, Reardon, B Harris, L Pryce, K Pryce, I Harris, Deacon, Lynch, Pratt, Fielden, Peacock, Meyers, Radford. Substitutes used: Vagana, Cook, Ferres, Parker.

St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Lyon, Talau, Gardner, Hooper, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, P Anderson, Gilmour, V Anderson, Wilkin. Substitutes used: Edmondson, Graham, Roby, Fa'asavalu.

Referee: R Laughton (Barnsley).