Super League champions Bradford Bulls spared injury-ravaged St Helens no mercy as they thrashed their arch rivals to move back to the top of the table.

Without 12 of their likely Challenge Cup final team, Saints played the last 25 minutes a man short after coach Ian Millward declined to use all his permitted substitutions.

But Millward's makeshift side still managed to score two tries in each half to emerge with honour intact at Valley Parade.

St Helens, who lost 56-22 to Warrington with a weakened team before last year's Cup final win over the Bulls, clearly had an eye on next Saturday's Murrayfield meeting with Wigan.

Wellens had been St Helens' most influential player throughout the first half and was clearly too valuable to risk in a meaningless fixture.

Albert and Barry Ward were also taken off within 10 minutes of the re-start, although the visitors had conceded two further tries by then.

Down to 12

Centre Scott Naylor took a neat pass from Peacock to touch down and Vaikona caught Deacon's high kick to register his second.

And Vaikona completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes after an incisive run from full-back Leon Pryce to put his side 42-12 ahead.

By then Saints were down to 12 men after Southern came off with an injury to his left arm and Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden went through some tired tackling to claim the next try.

Spirited Saints rallied and cut the deficit to 48-22 with tries from Kirkpatrick and Ade Gardner and another goal from Braddish.

But Bradford had the final say when skipper Robbie Paul claimed try number 10 and Deacon kicked his seventh goal.