THIS is a much improved Bulls side than the one demolished by 70 points at Odsal earlier in the season. Despite this the Saints managed to come away with what was in the end a comfortable 42-18 victory, writes Graham Henthorne.
The Bulls were first on the board taking advantage of a cruel bounce taking a last tackle grubber away from the covering Ben Parry at the last minute.
But as soon as the Saints had got control of themselves and the ball they put the Bulls under the cosh more than the 10 point half time margin would suggest.
Lewis Galbraith got his customary try in the corner to start the fightback. Drives from Greg Richards and André Savelio put the Saints on the front foot and on the last Dom Speakman dummied to the open side only to come back blind, whereupon quick hands from Connor Dwyer and Greg Wilde put the winger over.
He should have scored again on 20 minutes only to be pulled back for a forward pass before Captain and Man of the Match James Tilley put the Saints into a lead they never lost. He and Richards exchanged drives before Tilley’s second of the set saw the big prop stretch over for the score.
The Bulls were having increasing difficulty coping with the Saints defensive effort finding metres hard to come by. This was no more evident than jack Ashworth’s 60 metre sprint to trap the Bulls full back in goal from Danny Yates’ kick.
From the restart the Savelio (pictured) scored the first of his brace. An offload from Tilley gave Speakman the space to but the giant second row clear and he took four over the line with him.
Having finished the first half with a 90% completion rate the Saints opened the second with less than 10% spending five sets camped in their own 10 metre area. Credit has to be given again to the defensive effort of the layers at that time as the Bulls only scored once and never looked like doing so.
Connor Dwyer, who along with Richards pushed Tilley all the way for the plaudits, made a great 40 metre break only to find no support, but a little piece of luck broke the back of the visitors.
Lewis Charnock’s last tackle clearance kick hit a Bulls player, bounced straight into the hands of Yates and the scrum half won the race to the line for the try.
Richards then broke the line only to his late pass hit the turf, but minutes later he set up a try that was taken. An offload from Savelio put Greg Wilde clear down the right and the centre made no mistake touching down in the corner.
Three tries in the final 15 minutes put the icing on the cake. Interplay between Speakman and Tilley after the hookers great dart from inside his own half put the Saints on the Bulls 20 and four plays later Savelio took Tilley’s fabulous flick pass to waltz under the sticks.
Speakman and Savelio again combined to breach the Bulls defensive line this time for Yates’ to score in the corner. And the two combined once more for the Saints last try with Savelio swatting away defenders at will before feeding Speakman whose quick hands put Saunders in.
Defensively the Saints were back to their best but work will still be needed to put things right with ball in hand, but having said that a very good side was despatched today with relative ease.
Match Summary:
Saints U19s:
Tries: Adam Saunders, Lewis Galbraith, Greg Wilde, Danny Yates 2, James Tilley, André Savelio 2.
Goals: Lewis Charnock 5.
Bradford U19s:
Tries: Todd Binns, Jarrod Ward, Nathan Conroy.
Goals: Adam Brook 3.
Half Time: 16-6
Full Time: 42-18
Teams:
Saints:
20. Adam Saunders; 2. Lewis Galbraith, 3. Greg Wilde, 4. Jordan Tisdale, 5. Ben Parry; 6. Lewis Charnock, 7. Danny Yates; 8. Greg Richards, 9. Dom Speakman, 10. James Tilley, 11. Jack Ashworth, 12. André Savelio, 13. Connor Dwyer.
Subs: 14. Lewis Foster, 15. Adam Hesketh, 17. Matt Cooke, 21. Olly Davies.
Bradford:
1. Curtis Naughton; 5. Jarrod Ward, 3. Josh Casey, 4. Sam Wood, 2. Todd Binns; 6. Liam Coe, 7. Adam Brook; 8. Connor Nolan, 9. Nathan Conroy, 10. Steve Copeland, 11. Alex Miller, 12. Brad Adams, 13. Danny Gregory.
Subs: 14. Emerson Whittel, 15. Josh Halliday, 18. Jordan Hargreaves, 25. Nick Gomersall.
