REPORT by Denis Whittle Bradford Bulls 18 Saints 4 'BEST they've played this season!' declared a soaked but satisfied Saints fan after his side finally bent the knee to the reigning Super League champions at inhospitable Odsal on Sunday night.

As well he might, for brave, battling Saints gave their all in ensuring there was no repetition of recent drubbings at Bradford and, given the rub of the green and better finishing, there might have been a different story to tell.

Torrential rain rendered the outcome a lottery, with Saints recovering from a nightmare start to hold territorial advantage until half-time, and then defending heroically when the possession pendulum swung Bradford's way Such was the grinding intensity following the early rush of blood by both sides that fully 50 minutes then elapsed without a point, and it was only in the closing stages that a Bulls' side clinging to an 8-4 lead sealed victory.

What is beyond dispute is that the final margin flattered Bradford, with the gamebreaker in a torrid clash in which scoring chances were at a premium coming midway through the first half, and providing a classic case of hero tragically turning villain.

For, after notching a brilliant try to rocket Saints into contention, Sean Long elected to 'aqua-plane' rather then tap the ball over the line with not a Bull in sight after Bobbie Goulding had kicked ahead. But the stand-off lost possession and the chance was lost.

However, it would be unfair to suggest that here lay the sole reason for Saints' defeat for, as ever, Long compensated with his usual all-action stint and, complementing the heartening upsurge in team effort, individual citations abounded in the Knowsley Road squad.

None more so than from Paul Sculthorpe, who enjoyed his finest game in a Saints' jersey with Brett Goldspink, Chris Joynt and Damien Smith not far behind, while Paul Atcheson continued to answer his critics in the best possible manner with some brilliant tackling and fielding.

As for uncompromising Bradford it could be argued that the horrendous elements were tailor-made for their markedly physical approach. Saints were under immediate pressure and were six points down in three minutes when returning hooker James Lowes stole over from acting half-back for Steve McNamara to convert, but the visitors quickly responded when, from a scrum, Paul Newlove and Long worked a run-around move for Sean to race over.

McNamara inched Bradford further ahead with a penalty after Karle Hammond high-tackled Mike Forshaw and, with the exchanges warming up, Atcheson saved Saints' bacon with a last-ditch tackles on Tevita Vaikona and Robbie Paul before Julian O'Neill was sin-binned for a professional foul

Paul Davidson and Dwyer were then at cross-purposes but referee Russell Smith's admonitory finger did the trick and, with defences in control, only an abortive penalty attempt by Goulding when Matt Calland fouled Goldspink hinted at troubling the scoreboard up to half-time, a period remarkable in that Saints had not used a substitute. On the restart Saints found themselves fighting a desperate rearguard action to keep the Bulls at bay and at this stage, Sculthorpe, Atcheson and Anthony Sullivan in particular distinguished themselves with try-saving tackles and a breach-of-the-peace involving Newlove and Bradley led to both being dealt the yellow card.

With the score locked at 8-4 and 68 minutes gone, Bradford tightened their tenuous hold when Shaun Edwards, McNamara and Danny Peacock linked to put Vaikona over in the corner.

The video screen was used to verify a 77th-minute try when Bulls prop Brian McDermott crashed over for McNamara to convert, but perhaps the last word should rest with that self-same Saints' stalwart who, while trudging up the slopes of Odsal, consoled himself in saying 'they'll play a lot worse and win!'

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