Fri, 11 July 2008
Warrington Wolves V Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls: Michael Platt, Dave Halley, James Evans, Chris Nero, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Iestyn Harris, Andy Lynch, David Solomona, Simon Finnigan, Jamie Langley
Subs: Matt Cook, Chris Feather, Wayne Godwin, Craig Kopczak
Tries: Michael Platt, Chris Nero, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Andy Lynch
Goals: Paul Deacon(4)
Warrington Wolves: Hicks, Riley, Gleeson, King, Penny, Briers, Monaghan, Morley, Clarke, Rauhihi, L. Anderson, Westwood,V. Anderson.
Subs: Parker, Grix, Harrison, Cooper.
Tries: Hicks, Gleeson (2), King, Anderson.
Goals: Hicks (6 from 6)
REPORT
Warrington Wolves overturned a 12-point deficit to maintain their engage Super League revival under James Lowes at the expense of Bradford Bulls.
The Wolves trailed 12-0 and 24-12 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium but produced a strong second-half showing to secure a fifth win from six since former Bulls hooker Lowes took over as coach.
The prolific Chris Hicks, Matt King and Louis Anderson all touched down after the break for the hosts to add to Martin Gleeson’s earlier double.
Bradford had made a blistering start with tries inside the opening eight minutes from Andy Lynch and Chris Nero but defeat was their second in succession and fifth in seven games.
Semi Tadulala, Michael Platt and Ben Jeffries also crossed with Paul Deacon, returning after missing seven games with a hamstring injury, adding four goals but the Wolves held on in a tight finish.
Bradford took the lead in fortuitous fashion after five minutes when Deacon’s kick took a wicked deflection off Adrian Morley and was pounced on by Lynch.
Warrington were caught again moments later when David Solomona slipped a superb ball out wide to Tadulala, who broke clear down the left and cut inside two defenders to set up Nero.
Deacon converted both to leave the Wolves facing an uphill battle but the hosts looked proficient in attack and were unlucky when a strong Michael Monaghan pass meant for someone else caught Briers unawares.
Gleeson brought Warrington back into the game with a brilliant 90-metre burst after being put into a gap by King.
The England centre slowed briefly to side-step Michael Platt on halfway but then raced away to touch down without needing the support of flying winger Kevin Penny.
Chris Riley then exposed hole in the Bulls defence but this time Solomona got back to tackle.
Platt was then alert to grab a loose ball as the Wolves pressed again and the full-back thought he had created a try for Craig Kopczak before the break but it was ruled out for offside.
Tadulala did claim a third Bradford try when he leapt above a static Riley to catch a Deacon kick at the second attempt and touch down.
Deacon again converted but a knock on by Tadulala gave Warrington another chance and Gleeson stretched out to score, with Hicks again on target.
The Bulls responded within moments of the restart as Platt strolled over from dummy half, taking two Wolves players with him.
Yet Warrington were far from done and hit back again from a scrum, Hicks taking a Briers pass at a sharp angle to jink his way over for his 13th try of the season.
The hosts then stepped up the pressure with Briers powering forward and Monaghan firing out a long pass for King to take at speed and score.
With Hicks converting both, the scores were level at 24-24, and Warrington kept up the momentum as Jon Clarke put Louis Anderson over although there was a hint of the ball not been grounded.
Hicks converted and then added a penalty after Solomona was controversially sinbinned for a late tackle on Briers.
Bradford rallied with Jamie Langley breaking out wide and then finding Jeffries with a long pass inside but Deacon missed the kick and Warrington ran down the clock.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Bulls coach Steve McNamara was again left to criticise the decision-making of the officials, being particularly annoyed by Solomona's yellow card for a late tackle on Briers.
McNamara likened Steve Ganson's refereeing performance to a "pantomime" after a stormy game at Huddersfield last week after two players were sinbinned and one sent off. This time, touch judge James Child was in the firing line.
He said: "I thought it was a really poor decision. I didn't see what he saw and that's two weeks in a row that official has done it to us. I think he was wrong on both occasions."
"I am pleased with the effort and commitment of the players, they really put the effort in, but some schoolboy errors really got us."
"The squad is down in numbers at this time but I thought they held their hands up admirably and we'll come back and fight again next week."
Warrington coach James Lowes demanded improvements after admitting his side "scraped" past Bradford on Friday night.
Lowes said: "It's always pleasing to get a result but I think once we get it right, we will certainly be a force for the rest of the year."
"I don't want the lads to stop playing but I want them to smarten up and realise when the right time to play is and the right time not to play is."
"Generally, we have got a few things to work on but we scraped by and got a win today against a decent team. We need to do things a little better but great character and great effort."
Lowes, a Bulls hero in his playing days, attached no extra significance to a victory against his old club.
He added: "I had a great seven years at Bradford and am good friends with a lot of people behind the scenes, a lot of the players and the coach but it doesn't make it any more special."
"We just got a couple more points, which is a step in the right direction."