Saints' first trip to Bartercard Odsal Stadium in over a decade saw the Red V beat Bradford 10-34 in West Yorkshire!
First Half
Saints had the first chance at points six minutes in. Deep in Bradford territory, Jack Welsby put in a low kick under the Bulls posts which Connor Wynne couldn’t escape his own in-goal area. The referee awarded the visitors a penalty though, as Curtis Sironen was taken out off the ball and we opted for two points. Jackson Hastings converted, to give us an early 0-2 lead.
Five minutes later, the hosts had a chance to level the scores. Chris Atkin kicked downfield but was hit late by Shane Wright, giving the Bulls a penalty in front of the Saints sticks. After a lengthy check by the video referee, the Saints man saw yellow for the incident and Atkin converted the penalty to level the scores at 2-2.
The Bulls thought they had the first try 19 minutes in. They shifted the ball down their right edge and Ethan Ryan broke but Saints did well to force an error from him, as he looked to pass back inside. The referee brought the play back for a penalty in the build up. Luke Hooley stepped up for two points this time around and converted to give the hosts a 4-2 lead.
Two minutes later, Bradford did have the first try of the evening. Another penalty pushed them into our half. Inside our twenty, Atkin put Phoenix Steinwede through a gap and he scored from close range. Hooley added the conversion, 10-2 Bradford led.
Just before the half-hour mark, Saints responded. An error from the Bulls inside their own ten gifted Saints a full set in great field position. A few tackles in, the Red V shifted the ball from right to left and Welsby found Jacob Douglas on the wing who dove over in the corner to score on his debut. Hastings’ kick sailed wide, 10-6 we trailed.
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Seven minutes later, Saints levelled the scores. The visitors earned a repeat set in good field position. Inside the Bradford ten, Joe Shorrocks delayed the pass under the sticks before finding Curtis Sironen running a strong line and he powered over to score from close range. Hastings added the conversion to give Saints a 10-12 lead as we headed towards the break.
Those were the final points of the opening forty, as Saints came from behind to lead the Bulls at the break in West Yorkshire!
⏸️ The Saints have a two-point lead at Odsal as we go into the break#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/SbUq5QjY4q
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 27, 2026
Second Half
The visitors had a chance early in the second half. Good hands down the left edge saw Nene Macdonald held up inches short of the lines. The following tackle, Hastings put in a low kick and Welsby won the race to it and grounded under the sticks to increase our lead. Hastings added a simple conversion from in front of the sticks, 10-18 the visitors led.
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Another chance followed in the next set. Atkin’s kick off went out on the full, giving the Red V a penalty on halfway. We marched downfield but Macdonald couldn’t collect a pass deep in Bradford territory, which gave the Bulls the ball back.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Saints were awarded a penalty for a ball steal by Eribe Doro on Macdonald. The hosts challenged the call but it was unsuccessful. We opted for two points, Hastings converting to make it 10-20 to the Red V.
Just before the hour mark, Saints had try number four. The visitors had a penalty ten metres out, as Owen Dagnall was taken out chasing a kick. We used up the full set, before Joe Shorrocks put in a low kick on the last tackle which was deflected back into his hands and he buried his way over from close range to score. Hastings added another two points with the boot, 10-26 Saints led.
Five minutes later, the visitors had another try. On the last tackle, Hastings put in a high kick to the right edge which Waqa Blake fumbled under pressure, with the loose ball bouncing back into the kickers hands and he scored from close range. Hastings added the extras to his own try, 10-32.
Soon after, Saints had another penalty, with the Bulls caught offside on their own line. The visitors opted for two points which Hastings added, 10-34.
Another chance followed. Welsby stuck his head through a gap inside the Bradford twenty and tried to find Dagnall in support on his outside but the pass bounced into touch.
There was still time for another Saints score. A penalty for a ball steal put Saints into Bradford territory. We kicked early in the tackle count, as Hastings chipped towards the posts and it bounced into Welsby’s hands for a simple finish. Hastings added the conversion with less than two minutes to go, 10-40.
Those were the final points of the contest. Saints claiming the two points after a strong second half performance on their return to Bartercard Odsal Stadium!
😇 A strong Saints win on our return to Odsal!#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/HPueLu0naf
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) June 27, 2026
Match Summary
Bradford Bulls Team: Caleb Aekins, Connor Wynne, Guy Armitage, Waqa Blake, Ethan Ryan, Jayden Nikorima, Chris Atkin, Ryan Sutton, Andy Ackers, Eribe Doro, Dan Russell, Phoenix Steinwede, Joe Mellor.
Interchanges: Ebon Scurr, Will Gardiner, Eliot Peposhi, Luke Hooley.
18th Man: Riley Dean.
Tries: Phoenix Steinwede (22)
Conversions: Luke Hooley (1 from 1)
Penalties: Chris Atkin (1 from 1), Luke Hooley (1 from 1)
Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jacob Douglas, Harry Robertson, Nene Macdonald, Owen Dagnall, Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings, Alex Walmsley, Joe Shorrocks, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Curtis Sironen, Shane Wright, David Klemmer.
Interchanges: Jacob Host, George Delaney, Jake Davies, Tom Humphreys.
18th Man: Jake Burns.
Tries: Jacob Douglas (28), Curtis Sironen (35), Jack Welsby (44, 78), Joe Shorrocks (58), Jackson Hastings (63)
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (5 from 6)
Penalties: Jackson Hastings (3 from 3)
Sin Bin: Shane Wright (11)
HT: 10-12
FT: 10-40
Attendance: 7,019
