SUPER League leaders Saints will be seeking to maintain their 100 per cent record when Bradford Bulls come to Knowsley Road in a round four clash on Sunday, kick-off 3pm.
The attractive inter-county clash is of even greater interest in view of the fact that it is a dress rehearsal for the Silk Cut Challenge Cup Final on April 27, and also because the Bulls squad includes ex-Saints stars Sonny Nickle, Paul Loughlin and Bernard Dwyer.
The long-serving trio left Knowsley Road in November as part of the deal which took Paul Newlove to Saints, and while 'Lockers' and Sonny quickly settled in at Odsal utility forward Bernard has had to battle hard to recover from a groin operation.
Happily Dwyer is now back to full fitness and scored a try as well as taking both the man-of-the-match and the players' awards in the Bull's 31-24 win against London Broncos.
Full-back Steve Prescott, who missed the victory at Leeds with a shoulder injury, remains the only doubt from the Saints' side which defeated Wigan, and Super League leading try scorer Danny Arnold will be hoping to boost his tally of nine before his 19th birthday on Monday.
For the record Saints notched up a Centenary League double over Bradford, winning 55-10 at Knowsley Road on the opening day of the season, when Anthony Sullivan scored an hat-trick, and followed that with an 32-18 victory at Odsal in November.
Referee on Sunday is Russell Smith, highlights will be shown on Sky at 9pm on the same day, and the Academy sides of both clubs will meet in a curtain-raiser kick-off 1.15pm.
Wembley tickets are still available at Knowsley Road during normal office hours, as are free Super League fixture cards.
Saints have carried out necessary repairs to the floodlight system, while work on the new dressing rooms beneath the main stand is expected to be completed in time for the game against Oldham on May 5. Full-back David Lyon has moved to Leigh on loan and has denied that he has signed a contract to play Rugby Union with Orrell. Half-back John McAtee has joined South Wales in a similar agreement.
Saints have signed 16-year-old Carmel College centre Stephen Hall on amateur forms.
Forthcoming events in the Phil Veivers testimonial include: Race nights Vine Tavern, Thursday, April 11, and Ship, Blackbrook, Tuesday, April 16. Psychic Supper, Swan, Newton-le-Willows, Friday, April 12. Wembley Quiz, Masons Arms, Billinge, Thursday, April 18, details from 894144. Sportsman's Dinner, Sprayhurst, Friday, April 19. Further information from St. Helens 737917 or 892919.
Answer to correspondent Joe Briggs, of Carr Mill: Before Danny Arnold on Good Friday, Les Quirk was the last Saints player to score an hat-trick against Wigan, and he did it in the 35-10 victory at Knowsley Road in 1990.
The other five Saints to accomplish the feat are: George Liversedge at Knowsley Road in 1900; Alf Ellaby, RL Cup semi-final at Leigh, 1930; Tom Van Vollenhoven, Knowsley Road, 1968; Les Jones, Central Park 1969, and Harry Pinner, Central Park 1979.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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