Archive
Sat, 08 March 2008
Catalans Dragons V Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls: Michael Platt, James Evans, Paul Sykes, Shontayne Hape, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Paul Deacon, Andy Lynch, Terry Newton, Sam Burgess, Chris Nero, Jamie Langley, Glenn Morrison
Subs: Tame Tupou, Chris Feather, Wayne Godwin, Simon Finnigan
Tries: Shontayne Hape, Glenn Morrison, Simon Finnigan
Goals: Paul Deacon(4)
Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Murphy, Wilson, Stacul, Pelo, Mogg, Bosc, Chan, Gorrell, Guisset, Raguin, Croker, Gossard.
Subs: Mounis, Fakir, Casty, Khattabi.
Tries: Greenshields, Bosc, Chan.
Goals: Bosc (3 from 3)
REPORT
The Bulls battled to the dying seconds at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan, to beat the Catalans Dragons 20-18 and record a hard fought victory in the engage Super League.
Paul Deacon held his nerve to convert Simon Finnigan's 79th-minute try that put the Bulls in front just before the final hooter.
It was a crucial score for the visitors as it stopped them suffering a third straight loss.
Defeat was tough on the Dragons after they had looked on course to pinch a late winner themselves when Thomas Bosc scored.
The stand-off added the conversion, his third of the night, to put the hosts 18-14 up before Finnigan popped up to deny them at the death.
There had been little to split the sides throughout the 80 minutes, with a Deacon penalty just after half-time proving to be the difference.
The scrum-half had already converted Glenn Morrison's early try after setting up the forward with a clever kick over the top.
With the ball bouncing kindly, the Australian finished in superb fashion, breaking through three Dragon tacklers to dive in under the posts.
Clint Greenshields was caught just short of the line as Les Catalans gradully grew into the game, although they bombed a great chance with a knock-on from the resulting play-the-ball.
The full-back was not to be stopped just before the half, though, rushing through to take Bosc's chip kick on the bounce before diving over the line.
A 6-6 scoreline at the break was a fair reflection of the contest and Bradford seemed to realise the need to put points on the board when they decided to let Deacon kick for the posts after a high tackle.
Wayne Godwin seemed set to put them further clear until Justin Murphy somehow managed to get back and deny the hooker within centimetres of the line.
But, with the Dragons slow to filter back, Dimitri Pelo was caught offside, leaving Ashley Klein with little choice but to yellow card the winger for denying a try-scoring opportunity.
It did not take long for the visitors to make the most of the extra man, Shontayne Hape taking Deacon's flat pass and breaking through Greenshield's tackle to touch down on the left.
The Dragons did their best to battle back, forcing three successive sets of six close to their opponents' line.
Eventually they found a way through, a high bomb bouncing kindly into the path of prop Alex Chan, who looked both surprised and delighted when he was in the right place to drop on the loose ball over the line.
Bosc, who had put up the kick that led to the score, converted and then put the French side in front when he finished off a flowing move.
Yet there was to be a late twist in the tail for the Dragons, Finnigan's late, late effort denying them a first home win in 2008.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Bradford boss Steve McNamara hailed his "heroic" players after their dramatic engage Super League victory over Catalans Dragons.
"I questioned our players about their toughness last week and they have just responded in a magnificent manner". said McNamara.
"It was ugly but we needed a win and managed to find a way to get it."
"We've picked up four pretty serious injuries as well and had no one left to use on the bench for the last 30 minutes."
"We actually threw Chris Nero back out there when we probably shouldn't have done and to do that away in France with players who desperately needed a rest and desperately need to come off was just outstanding."
"I tip my hat off to them. There was some heroic defence at times as well and I'm absolutely delighted."
McNamara lost his entire back row to knee injuries, with Nero joined by Glenn Morrison and Jamie Langley, while full-back Michael Platt also departed due to a pulled hamstring.
"I thought we had a pretty good chance of winning it with two minutes to go," admitted boss Mick Potter.
"But Paul Deacon came up with a fantastic kick at the end for their try and it's the second time it's happened after Hull KR came here and did the same."
"I thought our guys out there should be proud of the effort they've put in though."
"It was a fantastic game and a great result for Bradford, just a terrible one for us."
"It's frustrating having won just once in five because possibly we could have had three by now."
"We're going to have to scrabble around now for those later in the season."