Archive
Sun, 03 August 2008
Harlequins RL V Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls: Michael Platt, Dave Halley, Paul Sykes, James Evans, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Iestyn Harris, Joe Vagana, Terry Newton, Andy Lynch, David Solomona, Simon Finnigan, Jamie Langley
Subs: Matt Cook, Wayne Godwin, Chris Nero, Craig Kopczak
Tries: Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Andy Lynch, Simon Finnigan
Goals: Iestyn Harris(4)
Harliquins RL: Melling, Sharp, Howell, Clubb, Sheriffe, Hill, Orr, Haggerty, Randall, Ward, Grayshon, Purdham, Paul.
Subs: Rinaldi, Temata, Mbu, Heckenberg.
Tries: Melling, Sharp (3), Howell, Clubb, Sheriffe.
Goals: Purdham (4 from 7)
REPORT
Will Sharp grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Harlequins RL kept their play-off hopes alive with a battling 36-24 win over visitors Bradford Bulls in the engage Super League.
Sharp struck twice early on, then crossed in the dying seconds to seal victory after the Bulls had threatened to steal the points.
Both sides adopted a tough-tackling approach as neither team made much headway in the opening 10 minutes, although David Halley thought he had crossed for the visitors early on, only to be called back for a forward pass.
But all that changed when Quins produced two tries in three minutes midway through the half to take command.
Firstly, Danny Ward bounced off a tackle and released Chris Melling, who had a clear run to the line.
Almost immediately Henry Paul and David Howell combined to free winger Sharp, who scampered over in the corner.
Bradford were unable to create any serious attacking opportunities, and the home side struck twice again just before half-time to open up a sizeable lead.
Looking to run from everywhere, Scott Hill and Rob Purdham stretched the defence to allow Howell to dive over - and seconds later Howell broke clear for Sharp to grab his second.
Not surprisingly the Bulls came quick out of the blocks at the restart, and two quickfire scores threw the game back into the melting pot.
Firstly a pass from Iestyn Harris gave Simon Finnigan a clear run to the line, and moments later David Solomona muscled out of a tackle to release Semi Tadulala to cross.
The Bulls had their tails up, and they clawed further back when a Harris kick through was pounced on by Ben Jeffries to reduce the deficit to one score.
The comeback was complete when after a wave of attacks, Andy Lynch burrowed over at the posts.
But just as all seemed lost for the hosts, Rikki Sheriffe, Tony Clubb and Will Sharp crossed in the dying minutes.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Bradford coach Steve McNamara was scathing about his side's display.
"I'm bitterly disappointed," he said.
"We gave ourselves a lot to do in the first half, and then after we got ourselves in a position to win the game, let ourselves down again."
"I'm very disappointed with how we finished the game as we should have been stronger than that."
"We were as far away from where we want to be as possible."
Harlequins RL coach Brian McDermott hailed Will Sharp after the winger grabbed a hat-trick of tries and insisted the 22-year-old was reaping the benefit of the hard work he has put in this season.
"Will looks erratic and he often looks like he is running through a brick wall," McDermott said.
"He's a bit like the Wild Man of Borneo as he looks as though he's just tearing around.
"But there's a lot of skill there and he keeps getting better and better."
Quins looked as though they were coasting at one stage, only to be staring another defeat in the face with less than ten minutes to go.
And McDermott felt the performance showed the character of his young side.
"I thought we were able to draw on our experience because of what has happened to us so many times this season," he added.
"We have been nipped and pipped in too many games. We know how much that hurts and that's why today meant so much."
"The way the guys celebrated at the end it was as if they had won the lottery!"