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A battling performance from your super Saints sealed a stunning and fully deserved 22-16 win.

Led superbly by Long and Pryce, the men in Red Vee played some scintillating stuff with some stout and last ditch defence to overturn Bradford Bulls for the first time in three games at Odsal.

Returning to the Saints team were Willie Talau following a calf injury and Club Captain Paul Sculthorpe who took his place on the 17 for the first time since June 1, last year.

In the process, he also made his 248^th appearance.

Bradford were unchanged from last week’s win at Huddersfield.

And it was the Bulls who kicked off into a swirling wind, giving Ade Gardner plenty to do on the first take – the winger more than up to the task.

Fozzard went off with what seemed to be a leg injury (replaced by Hargreaves) and as he left the field, James Graham took a delightful ball from Paul Wellens to steam over the line. Although he looked to have put the ball down, the video ref had to confirm it. Long easy with the extras.

Six minutes gone, 6-0 to the good.

A couple of minutes later Gardner was in the corner after taking a line ball from Clough.

18 minutes into the game, Pryce put up a great high ball that Evans let bounce, but then regained to clear his lines – Meli lurking for an additional errors.

Paul Sculthorpe made his return to the team 21 minutes into the half and as he took his place in the line Leon forced an error from Evans which gave Saints great field position.

And Long and Leon combined to put Gilmour over; the former Bradford player scything through the line to put Saints 14 up. Long then made it 16.

As Bradford began to push more and more, so did the Saints defence – especially when James Graham stopped a certain score from Finnigan, close to the line.

Frodsham then got his first away appearance at the club and threw himself straight into tackling duties.

Then with four minutes – after being penalised once again by Phil Bentham – Evans went in at the corner.

Half time: Bradford 4 Saints 16

Bradford had the early pressure in the second half and within a few minutes Paul Sykes went over. Deacon pinpoint with the extras.

With 16 minutes of the second half gone, Paul Deacon produced an excellent 40:20 kick out of nothing and put his men feet away from the Saints line. But once again the defence held firm.

With Fozzard and Frodsham off the pitch with injuries, Saints were rolling two subs, and Scully, coming back into the side was putting in a great stint in defence.

And with 19 minutes left, those defenders got one of their first chances at a repeat set thanks to Long’s cheeky kick under the sticks.

James Graham took a well earned rest after 64 minutes on the field – replaced by Keiron Cunningham and, after forcing an error and gaining possession, Michael Platt was sin binned for blatantly pulling Roby down as he looked a certainty to score.

Long put Saints eight to the good.

Hape then made an error on his own line and Cunningham bundled over to put his side further ahead – a superb time to score if there ever was one.

Bradford pressurised the Saints line in the final few minutes, but despite pulling a try back from Sykes, with Deacon converting, Saints held firm.

Daniel Anderson said: “"You don't want to test your resolve and character so early but it does augur well for the rest of the year.

"I thought the leaders in our team - Sean Long, Leon Pryce and Keiron - were absolutely outstanding. We were under the cosh for a while but our resilience and character showed up.

"I'm absolutely stoked. We had a 12-5 penalty count against us and we lost two front rowers. Gareth Frodsham was rattled and didn't come back for the second half and Nick Fozzard looks to have a serious knee injury. We hopes he's wrong but the doctor fears the worst."

Match Summary

Bradford:

Tries: Evans, Sykes

Goals: Deacon (2 from 3)

Saints:

Tries: Graham, Gardner, Gilmour, Cunningham

Goals: Long (3 from 5)

Penalties:

Bradford: 12

Saints: 5

HT (Sts First): 16-4

FT (Sts First): 22-16

ATT: 10,756

REF: Phil Bentham

Teams:

Bradford:

1. Michael Platt; 3. James Evans, 24. Paul Sykes, 23. Chris Nero, 4. Shontayne Hape; 6. Iestyn Harris, 7. Paul Deacon; 8. Joe Vagana, 9. Terry Newton, 10. Andy Lynch, 13. Jamie Langley, 12. Glenn Morrison, 16. Sam Burgess.

Subs: 2. Dave Halley, 20. Wayne Godwin, 19. Simon Finnigan 17. Matt James.

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long, 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 21. Paul Clough, 15. Mike Bennett.

Subs: 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 13. Paul Sculthorpe, 14. James Roby, 26. Gareth Frodsham.