JIMMY Lowes admitted the Bulls’ second-half fightback in last night’s 46-22 defeat at St Helens was too little too late as they edged a step closer towards relegation.

Saints were 40-0 up in the 49th minute before the Bulls hit back with four tries in a spirited rally which saw Luke Gale, Joe Arundel, Adrian Purtell and Jamie Foster cross the line.

Yet Lowes readily conceded his men were simply blown away by the Super League leaders during an utterly one-sided first half.

St Helens led 28-0 at the break and Lowes was left lamenting his side’s sluggish start.

Lowes said: “There is something there but we’ve just got to find it earlier.

“It’s a tough place to come, an intimidating place, and we were miles off in the first half, absolutely miles off.

“It’s a shame because they did show they could play some rugby and that was pleasing because we looked like a decent side when we cut lose.

“Unfortunately, in the first half we didn’t compete at all with St Helens at any level. End of story.”

Lowes’ assessment was brutally honest and he is already plotting for life in the second tier next season.

The Bulls’ second administration in 18 months in January saw them docked six points and led to the exit of a number of key players.

They have been fighting a losing battle ever since and they now lie 11 points from safety with seven games remaining.

Lowes admitted: “It’s looking more and more likely that we will be relegated and if that happens, we will get our heads round it.

“If we go down, I want the lads to go down in the manner of that second half. That’s the aim.”

On-loan Hull forward Jay Pitts went off with a suspected rib injury and could be a doubt for next weekend’s trip to Huddersfield.

Lowes added: “We’ve got a game next week against a side who are very good with the ball. We need to compete with that.

“That spell in the second half shows there is something there. St Helens didn’t stop playing – we started to play.

“The lads are trying really hard and that’s the pleasing thing.”