A hat-trick from Great Britain full back Paul Wellens condemned the Bulls to a second defeat in four days at Knowsley Road yesterday.

Wellens' final try with time all but up sealed second-placed Saints' 34-27 victory but Bulls coach Brian Noble insisted his players deserved at least a draw after putting in a spirited performance.

"I thanked the players for their efforts," said Noble, whose side now sit sixth with a four-win, four-loss record.

"For both teams to come up with that kind of effort was amazing. It was a tough game and, on reflection, I think we deserved at least a point."

They would have had it, too, had Paul Deacon's 79th-minute field goal attempt not drifted agonisingly wide.

Prop Andy Lynch grabbed a double for the Bulls, Karl Pryce kept up his run of scoring on every appearance this season and Robbie Paul also crossed but it wasn't enough as Saints capitalised on a host of basic errors to run in six tries to four, with Mike Bennett, James Roby and Darren Albert complementing Wellens' hat-trick.

"We were pretty dominant at times, particularly in the first half, but the scoreline at half-time didn't reflect that," lamented Noble.

"We are conspiring to give ourselves a few problems at our end of the field. Three times we dropped the ball just after scoring a try and each time they capitalised.

"But I have nothing but praise for our players. They can take a lot out of this and walk out of this stadium with their heads held high."

Noble could at least point to a vastly improved effort from Thursday's meek second-half capitulation to the Rhinos.

"We were a whole lot different. Even our fans will walk away thinking 'the boys have had a dig here'. We are really disappointed we didn't get anything out of the game but our pride is certainly intact."