Saints' triple crown

TRIPLE-CROWNED kings of Rugby League worldwide - and deservedly so! That was totally focused Saints, who added the Silk Cut Challenge Cup to Grand Final and World Club Challenge Championship trophies with this Grand Slam triumph over the holders in the 100th Final at Twickenham. The first 13-a-side club showdown at Rugby Union's spiritual home, its promise of staging a handling extravaganza was blighted by torrential rain, and instead both Saints and Bulls contrived to cancel each other out with almost unbearable intensity.

Not a classic, but nonetheless a highly-disciplined team performance by Saints, whose pack was forever going forward while streetwise half-backs Tommy Martyn and Sean Long dominated much-vaunted Bradford brothers Henry and Robbie Paul.

Understanding between the Saints' pair borders on the telepathic, particularly from a short-kicking angle, and regular use of this ploy often had Bull's defence on the back foot, and led to the game's only tries by Martyn and Keiron Cunningham.

The game was another tactical triumph for Saints' coach with the 'Midas touch' Ian Millward, while another massive plus was that 35-tackle Chris Joynt and his men gave the best possible answer to questions about defence in tethering the normally rampant Bulls.

Compelling if not spectacular viewing, Saints' Challenge Cup eclipse of Bradford was the only occasion that a defeated side has remained tryless since 1989 - when Saints were defeated by Wigan 27-0 - and it also yielded the least points since 1980.

How can one dwell on individual heroics given such a display of unity? But needs must, with 'Longy' becoming the eighth Saint to win the Lance Todd Trophy, and he was closely shaded by 'Rock of Gibraltar' Paul Wellens, Paul Sculthorpe, David Fairleigh and the mercurial Martyn.

It was also pleasing to note that Anthony Sullivan involved himself with gusto after his earlier traumas at Warrington, and appeared completely primed for the forecast deluge of 'bombs' from Bradford that remarkably failed to materialise.

Another memory to savour from a saturated Twickenham which - for most Saints' fans lacks that certain 'atmosphere' of Wembley, was the appearance on the big stage of young substitutes Tim Jonkers and Steve Hall, and more's the pity there was no opportunity for fellow replacement Tony Stewart.

And another indication of the magnificent team spirit at Knowsley Road was the manner in which '18th man' John Stankevitch shelved his disappointment at not being in the squad by assisting from the bench - your turn will come John!

With the Paul duo buzzing from the kick-off much early ascendancy belonged to Bradford, with Wellens and Peter Shiels both halting the outstanding Mike Forshaw in full flight, as did Martyn on Henry Paul and Paul Newlove on Joe Vagana.

Australian Shane Rigon, who scored an hat-trick versus Saints in March, was then sin-binned for obstructing Martyn after he had chased a Long chip-through but, having weathered the initial onslaught, Saints took the lead in dramatic fashion on 12 minutes.

The opening try came after Long's grubber rebounded off an upright for Sculthorpe to gather, with the undaunted Sean repeating his left-foot dose for Martyn to touch down despite Henry Paul's challenge with Long tacking on the conversion.

Saints might have been firmly in the driving seat when scrum-half-cum-winger Sean, Joynt and Newlove broke away in rousing style only for the move to peter out, just before Henry Paul opened Bull's account with a penalty after Sonny Nickle fouled Paul Anderson.

However the consolidation Saints' sought arrived in unexpected manner on 25 minutes, when another kick-through by Long ricochetted off Danny Gartner for Keiron Cunningham to cross between the posts - much to the delight of Saints' drenched 'Barmy Army.'

Martyn was then on target with a snap drop goal before Henry Paul landed his second penalty when Jonkers and Vila Matautia held down Robbie Paul, meaning that Saints enjoyed a tenuous 13-4 cushion on the turn-round.

A second half which largely resolved itself into a war of attrition produced only a third penalty goal by Henry Paul when Saints wandered offside, while suffering Saints' had further 'tries' by Martyn, Sean Hoppe and Jonkers refused by the video referee, who had twice ruled in their favour earlier.

So the curtain finally came down on a Challenge Cup Final which, in simple terms, had been a hard slog for both sides, with Saints continuing to have the Indian Sign over Bulls in major competition clashes.