Archive
Sat, 14 September 2002
Bradford Bulls 32
Wigan Warriors 14
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Brandon Costin, Lesley Vainikolo, Robbie Paul, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, James Lowes, Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Gartner, Mike Forshaw
Subs: Leon Pryce, Lee Gilmour, Paul Anderson, Brian McDermott
Tries: Michael Withers (2), Lesley Vainikolo, Stuart Fielden
Goals: Paul Deacon (8)
Wigan Warriors: K Radlinski, B Carney , G Connolly, D Hodgson, J Ainscough , J O`Neill, A Lam, T O`Connor , T Newton, C Smith, M Cassidy , D Tickle , A Farrell
Subs: H Howard, S O`Loughlin, D Sculthorpe , M Smith
Tries: Radlinski (2)
Goals: O'Neill (3)
The Warriors thumped Saints 48-8 last week, but injuries and a lack of discipline took their toll, with Michael Withers, Stuart Fielden and Lesley Vainikolo scoring in the first period.
Paul Deacon added six goals, with only a Kris Radlinski brace and three Julian O'Neill goals keeping Wigan in touch at 24-14.
Withers powered in for his second seven minutes after the break and Wigan could not respond, two more Deacon penalties completing the win.
The Warriors went into the game without Brett Dallas, Paul Johnson, Dave Furner and Stephen Wild, while Andy Farrell and Brian Carney played despite initially being ruled out this week with respective thigh and hamstring problems.
The went off during the match, and Jamie Ainscough also went to hospital for x-rays on a suspected broken arm, meaning that Danny Tickle and Sean O'Loughlin had to play as makeshift centres.
The Bulls took an early 4-0 lead thanks to two Deacon penalties in an infringement-strewn opening, with O'Neill pulling back two points on 11 minutes.
The Warriors hit the front on 16 minutes when they turned pressure into points as Radlinski crashed over through a two-man tackle from Terry Newton's pass to become the first player to score 100 tries in Super League, O'Neill giving them an 8-4 advantage.
But a stroke of luck on the quarter mark saw the Bulls move back into a lead which they would never lose.
Deacon's grubber bounced off Terry O'Connor and into Danny Gartner's arms, and he offloaded in Radlinski's tackle for the supporting Withers to score, Deacon goaling and adding another penalty five minutes later.
The scrum half was off target with another shot at goal soon afterwards, but from the drop-out, the Bulls made the position pay when Robbie Paul's bomb, which initially appeared to be too deep, bounced off Gary Connolly in the in-goal area and Stuart Fielden pounced.
Deacon made the score 18-8, but the gap was back to four points when Lam's excellently delayed pass sent Radlinski in for his second on 31 minutes.
Paul Anderson had a try ruled out for a double movement and James Lowes was held up, but Bradford took a crucial leap ahead on the stroke of half time.
Brandon Costin worked the blind side and Vainikolo twisted through a three-man tackle to score, Deacon converting from the touchline.
Wigan needed to score first after the restart to stand any chance of winning, but it was the Bulls who struck the crucial blow.
Michael Withers looped around Paul and held off Tickle's attempted tackle to touch down at the corner to give the home side a 28-14 advantage.
Lowes saw another score ruled out as he lost the ball in trying to ground, and Mick Cassidy suffered the same fate at the other end in Wigan's best chance.
But the Bulls' defence, as at Leeds last week, held firm, and two late Deacon penalties confirmed the win.
"I thought it was a great performance," said delighted Bulls coach Brian Noble.
"We beat a side that walloped St Helens last week. We stifled their top players and gave them a good old-fashioned bashing."
Warriors coach Stuart Raper said: "It's a bit like a hospital ward in the dressing room.
"We had a lot of blokes playing out of position, which didn't help, but we played some dumb footie. We didn't lack desire but they were in our faces and didn't allow us to play football."
The Bulls are now behind St Helens on points difference, with the Knowsley Road men's big win over Hull giving them the edge, but Deacon was confident that they can seal a second successive top spot with a win at Hull next Friday.
He told Sky Sports: "We knew we had to win with Saints thrashing Hull, so we're still in the hunt for the top spot."