Bulls comeback shocks champions

Bradford 31-24 St Helens

Bradford come from 22-14 down to hand defending Super League champions St Helens an opening weekend defeat.

Former Sydney City centre Shane Rigon was the Bulls hero, marking his full debut with a hat-trick.

The match had been delayed from Friday night because of frost at Valley Parade.

Television viewers were instead treated to a mass brawl between Wigan and Warrington.

This rearranged Sunday clash would have been a more fitting televised opener, with Bradford's powerful second half turning it into a thrilling encounter.

Saints had an 18-14 interval lead, and were the more cohesive team in the first half, even if the Bulls drew first blood.

Dream start

Robbie Paul worked Rigon over for his first try for the club within two minutes, and two goals from Henry Paul made it 8-0.

The lead changed hands three times before the break as the champions showed their mettle by soaking up the pressure and hitting Bradford with two tries in 10 minutes.

Former Bradford favourite Paul Newlove skipped past England World Cup centre Scott Naylor for Saints' first.

Sean Long got on the end of a fine break by Anthony Stewart for their second.

Bradford might have made more of clean breaks from Robbie Paul and Daniel Gartner.

But full-back Stuart Spruce finished decisively from a darting run by the skipper to put his side 14-10 in front.

Saints in command

Saints regained the lead just before half-time when outstanding prop Fairleigh crashed over for their third try.

It was a lead they extended in the second half as Keiron Cunningham darted through from first receiver six minutes into the second half.

At 22-14 down Bradford needed to catch fire.

Rigon sparked the fightback on 49 minutes when he crossed at the corner following superb long passes from Henry Paul and Gartner.

Comeback complete

When Henry Paul forced his way over from close range on 67 minutes and kicked his fifth goal, the Bulls were back in front.

Rigon, only in the starting line-up because of injuries to Lee Gilmour and Leon Pryce, made sure of a pulsating victory 10 minutes from the end.

He crossed out wide to complete his hat-trick before Henry Paul put the seal on the success with a drop goal.

Teams:

Bradford: Spruce, Vaikona, Naylor, Rigon, Withers, H. Paul, R. Paul, Vagana, Lowes, McDermott, Peacock, Gartner, Forshaw. Replacements: Deacon, Fielden, Wilkinson, Anderson.
St Helens: Wellens, Hoppe, Stewart, Newlove, Sullivan, Martyn, Long, Shiels, Cunningham, Fairleigh, Jonkers, Nickle, Joynt. Replacements: McDonald, Stankevitch, Hall, Henare.
Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford)