Captain Tara Jones and Lizzie Gladman each scored a brace as Saints Women earned a 42-12 win over Bradford on Sunday.
Mark Brennan’s side led 20-6 at half time after they fought back from 6-0 down.
Shona Hoyle opened the scoring for the Bulls but Saints hit back through Tara Jones, Emily Rudge, Channy Crowl and Naomi Williams.
The second half saw Saints take control with further tries from the returning Faye Gaskin and Alex Simpson before Gladman and Jones completed their doubles.
Mark Brennan said: “I’m really proud of our efforts in tough conditions. Bradford really took the game to us in the opening stages but we stayed composed and get back into the game well.
“We worked hard to get in front and scored some nice tries. I thought our middles where very good. Lizzie and Vicky Whitfield punched holes in the Bradford defence and they struggled to handle them. It was also nice to welcome Faye back; she moved us around the park well and Channy did 80 minutes looking threatening with the ball.
“Some of our defensive efforts were outstanding too. Emily Rudge tackled the house down the whole game.
“The big thing for us is that we need to keep working hard to improve over the coming weeks. We have five league games left now so our goal is to make sure we make the play offs in the highest position we can.”
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Jones (2), Rudge E., Crowl, Williams N., Gaskin, Simpson, Gladman (2)
Goals: Harris (2), Gaskin
Bradford:
Tries: Hoyle (2)
Goals: Garner, Jones
HT: 20-6
FT: 42-12
Teams:
Saints:
1. Rebecca Rotheram; 2. Leah Burke, 3. Katie-May Williams, 4. Naomi Williams, 5. Alex Simpson; 6. Faye Gaskin, 7. Zoe Harris; 8. Sarah Lovejoy, 9. Tara Jones, 10. Vicky Whitfield, 11. Roxy Mura, 12. Emily Rudge, 13. Chantelle Crowl.
Subs: 14. Lizzie Gladman, 15. Dawn Taylor, 16. Jade Ward, 17. Isabelle Rudge.
Bradford:
20. Leah Jones; 1. Savannah Andrade, 3. Jess Courtman, 5. Haylie Hields, 14. Memphis Jubb; 6. Claire Garner, 31. Danielle Bose; 8. Lauren Hickey, 17. Chrissi Nettleton, 30. Stacey Wilson, 23. Heather MacDonald, 13. Paige Costello, 11. Shona Hoyle.
Subs: 9. Kirsty Moroney, 10. Debbie Smith, 12. Amy Boardman, 28. Reagan Walker.
