Archive
Fri, 09 August 2002
Halifax RLFC 8
Bradford Bulls 25
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Lee Gilmour, Lesley Vainikolo, Leon Pryce, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, James Lowes, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Gartner, Mike Forshaw
Subs: Nathan McAvoy, Brian McDermott, Lee Radford, Robert Parker
Tries: Scott Naylor (2), Nathan McAvoy, Leon Pryce
Goals: Paul Deacon (4)
Drop Goals: Paul Deacon
Blue Sox: Stuart Donlan, Danny Halliwell, Colum Halpenny, Jason Flowers, Robbie Beckett, Liam Finn, Gavin Clinch, Andy Hobson, John Lawless, Chris Birchall, James Gannon, Shane McMenemy, Andrew Brocklehurst
Subs: Jamie Thackray, Ryan Clayton, Paul Davidson, Jamie Bloem
Try: Halpenny
Goals: Finn (2)
The Bulls meet second placed St Helens next Friday, but know that they will need to improve following an at times error-ridden showing, although they proved clincial in their finishing.
Paul Deacon's penalty had edged them ahead before Lesley Vainikolo's fumble gifted Colum Halpenny a try, which Liam Finn goaled.
Deacon added another penalty before Scott Naylor and Leon Pryce touched down to give the Bulls a 14-6 interval lead.
Finn pulled back two points with a penalty on 50 minutes, but they fell for the sucker punch on the hour, when Naylor grabbed his second try, before a Deacon drop goal and Nathan McAvoy try sealed the win.
The Bulls attempted to play open rugby during the first period and at times paid the price, although they twice went close to scoring after Deacon had kicked them ahead on two minutes.
Firstly, Andrew Brocklehurst and excellent full back Stuart Donlan combined to prevent Michael Withers grounding the ball before Lesley Vainikolo lost the ball in the corner.
And it was a Vainikolo error which gifted Halifax their opening try, when he fumbled Clinch's kick and chasing Colum Halpenny kicked the ball on before touching down.
Young stand off Liam Finn - on his home debut - converted, and the Blue Sox continued on the offensive until Shayne McMenemy's interference allowed Deacon to pull two points back.
The Bulls then retained possession a minute later when Danny Halliwell spilled a Deacon bomb and was then injured in a subsequent tackle, leaving the scrambling defence unable to prevent the ball being switched and Naylor being sent in for his 50th try for the club.
McMenemy's 40/20 allowed Halifax the position to hit back, but Jamie Thackray's double movement saw them waste the chance.
They were made to pay shortly before the half hour at the other end, when Leon Pryce, who impressed at stand off in Robbie Paul's absence, ducked his way in from dummy half, Deacon creating a 14-6 scoreline.
Lawless was yellow carded for interference before the break, while Halpenny was taken off with an arm injury, but the Blue Sox's line held out, with Brian McDermott having a try ruled out for a forward pass.
Credit must go to Halifax for the way that they improved their discipline after the break, and it was their makeshift right centre, Ryan Clayton, who almost gave them the first try after the restart, but the youngster was just hauled into touch at the corner.
They did get the first points, though, when Finn added a penalty to cut the gap to six points,, and a superb set of six saw them earn repeat possession.
They began inside their own ten metres, but Clinch's chip, and Donlan's chase saw them move upfield before McAvoy was tackled in his own in-goal area from a Clinch kick.
However, they were unable to make the Bulls pay before Pryce sliced through at the other end and sent the supporting Naylor over under the posts.
Deacon's goal made the scoreline 20-8, and the scrum half added a drop goal on 73 minutes to open up the scoreline further.
Rob Parker's debatable pass enabled McAvoy to seal the win in the final minute, but the Bulls continued their march towards Old Trafford.
This was the fourth game that the Blue Sox have failed to score a try in the second period, and coach Steve Linnane admitted afterwards that relegation could become a worry.