DrewBeliever
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Fri, 17 September 2004
Bradford Bulls V St Helens
Tetley's Rugby Super League IX Round 28
Won 64 - 24
Bradford Bulls: Stuart Reardon, Michael Withers, Leon Pryce, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo, Iestyn Harris, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Robbie Paul, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Logan Swann, Lee Radford
Subs: Karl Pratt, Richard Moore, Robert Parker, Paul Johnson
Tries: Stuart Reardon(3), Michael Withers, Shontayne Hape(2), Lesley Vainikolo(3), Paul Deacon, Jamie Peacock
Goals: Paul Deacon(10)
St Helens Wellens, Gardner, Talau, Viane, Hardman, Roby, Long, Mason, Higham, Fa'ssavalu, Joynt, Stankevich, Wilkin Bennett, Graham, Feaunati, Bracek
Tries Stankevich, Bennett, Gardner, Feaunati Goals Long 4
Lesley Vainikolo starred as Bradford Bulls beat St Helens on Friday at Odsal.The giant winger scored a hat-trick of tries to help his side to a 64-24 victory and also make him top try-scorer in the Tetley's Super League for the 2004 season.
A Saints side missing seven first-team regulars managed to keep the game close for the opening half but were torn apart in the closing stages as the hosts made sure they would finish the regular season in second place.
However it was Long that created most of the attention in the match as he marked his return to action after his three-month suspension with a performance that should have caught the eye of Great Britain coach Brian Noble in the Bulls dug-out.
Shantayne Hape appeared to have set the hosts on their way to a comfortable night's work when he galloped in for two early tries that gave the Bulls a ten point lead in as many minutes.
But, the procession of tries was not immediately forthcoming as the under-strength Saints fought back to level matters at ten points apiece with a neat try from Stankevich and two successful penalties from the boot of Long, who was booed throughout the evening.
The comeback from Saints clearly rocked their opponents who took their time to re-establish themselves in the match.
Stuart Reardon put the reigning Super League champions back into the lead on the half-hour mark and Vainikolo got his first of the night when team-mate Hape passed him the ball over the try line.
With Jamie Peacock barging over just before the hooter, Bradford went into the interval with a 28-10 advantage and, in truth, the game was over as a contest.
Although well behind, Saints showed some fighting spirit straight after the re-start as Long's clever run set up Michael Bennett to score.
But that proved to be as good as it got for the Lancastrians as Vainikolo quickly helped himself to two more tries that put him in front of Leeds' Danny McGuire in the race to be top try-scorer and netted him a £1,000 prize for his troubles.
Michael Withers and Paul Deacon also scored in the final few minutes as Bradford cruised over the 50-point barrier, although their defence may be of some cause for concern going into the play-offs as Dom Feaunati and Ade Gardner crossed for Saints.
The margin of victory will be a great boost to the Bulls who have now guaranteed second place in the standings and a trip to Leeds in two weeks time for a place in the Grand Final.
Bradford Bulls V St Helens
Tetley's Rugby Super League IX Round 28
Won 64 - 24
Bradford Bulls: Stuart Reardon, Michael Withers, Leon Pryce, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo, Iestyn Harris, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Robbie Paul, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Logan Swann, Lee Radford
Subs: Karl Pratt, Richard Moore, Robert Parker, Paul Johnson
Tries: Stuart Reardon(3), Michael Withers, Shontayne Hape(2), Lesley Vainikolo(3), Paul Deacon, Jamie Peacock
Goals: Paul Deacon(10)
St Helens Wellens, Gardner, Talau, Viane, Hardman, Roby, Long, Mason, Higham, Fa'ssavalu, Joynt, Stankevich, Wilkin Bennett, Graham, Feaunati, Bracek
Tries Stankevich, Bennett, Gardner, Feaunati Goals Long 4
Lesley Vainikolo starred as Bradford Bulls beat St Helens on Friday at Odsal.The giant winger scored a hat-trick of tries to help his side to a 64-24 victory and also make him top try-scorer in the Tetley's Super League for the 2004 season.
A Saints side missing seven first-team regulars managed to keep the game close for the opening half but were torn apart in the closing stages as the hosts made sure they would finish the regular season in second place.
However it was Long that created most of the attention in the match as he marked his return to action after his three-month suspension with a performance that should have caught the eye of Great Britain coach Brian Noble in the Bulls dug-out.
Shantayne Hape appeared to have set the hosts on their way to a comfortable night's work when he galloped in for two early tries that gave the Bulls a ten point lead in as many minutes.
But, the procession of tries was not immediately forthcoming as the under-strength Saints fought back to level matters at ten points apiece with a neat try from Stankevich and two successful penalties from the boot of Long, who was booed throughout the evening.
The comeback from Saints clearly rocked their opponents who took their time to re-establish themselves in the match.
Stuart Reardon put the reigning Super League champions back into the lead on the half-hour mark and Vainikolo got his first of the night when team-mate Hape passed him the ball over the try line.
With Jamie Peacock barging over just before the hooter, Bradford went into the interval with a 28-10 advantage and, in truth, the game was over as a contest.
Although well behind, Saints showed some fighting spirit straight after the re-start as Long's clever run set up Michael Bennett to score.
But that proved to be as good as it got for the Lancastrians as Vainikolo quickly helped himself to two more tries that put him in front of Leeds' Danny McGuire in the race to be top try-scorer and netted him a £1,000 prize for his troubles.
Michael Withers and Paul Deacon also scored in the final few minutes as Bradford cruised over the 50-point barrier, although their defence may be of some cause for concern going into the play-offs as Dom Feaunati and Ade Gardner crossed for Saints.
The margin of victory will be a great boost to the Bulls who have now guaranteed second place in the standings and a trip to Leeds in two weeks time for a place in the Grand Final.
