Sat, 18 February 2006
Bradford Bulls 18
Harlequins RL 18
Bradford Bulls: Michael Withers, Marcus Bai, Ben Harris, Shontayne Hape, Karl Pryce, Iestyn Harris, Paul Deacon, Ian Henderson, Stuart Fielden, Andy Lynch, Paul Johnson, Bradley Meyers, Jamie Langley
Subs: Matt Cook, Stanley Gene, Joe Vagana, Chris McKenna
Tries: Ben Harris, Shontayne Hape, Ian Henderson
Goals: Paul Deacon (3)
Harlequins: Lucky Luisi, Sheriffe, Sykes, Purdham, Bradley-Qalilawa, Gafa, Leuluai, Temata, Weisner, Heckenberg, Haumono, Hopkins, Mbu.
Subs: Williams, Clubb, Mills, Tookey.
Tries: Leuluai, Williams, Hopkins
Goals: Sykes (3)
Bradford took an early lead through Ian Henderson's try, but scores from Thomas Leuluai and Danny Williams helped Quins to a deserved 12-6 half-time lead.
The Bulls hit back through Shontayne Hape and Ben Harris to go ahead, before Lee Hopkins put Quins 18-16 ahead.
Quins defended for 20 minutes but were penalised at the death for not being square, allowing Deacon to level.
Harlequins were all at sea early on as a misplaced Leuluai kick gave Bulls full-back Michael Withers the chance to run 65m before being stopped by the chasing Matt Gafa.
But Gafa had a second go at Withers, giving referee Ashley Klein little choice but to send him to the sin-bin.
Bradford took advantage within seconds as Henderson went through some feeble Quins defence to bury his way over.
Bradford's habit of conceding penalties and dropping the ball early in the tackle count undermined their efforts though and it was Harlequins who stepped up the pace to score.
Leuluai stepped through some weak Bulls tackling to go over, and the Kiwi could have grabbed another minutes later but he put the returned Gafa's short pass down as the pitch opened up for him.
Harlequins deservedly took the lead on 29 minutes as Leuluai's pass put Williams through a hole and the prop stretched out his arm to dot the ball on the try-line.
Bradford came out for the second half with all guns blazing and Hape crossed after a clever play from Iestyn Harris.
Deacon somehow conspired to hit the post from in front, and the inexplicable miss almost cost Bradford dear.
Minutes later, the Bulls did take the lead as Stanley Gene's chip bounced favourably for Ben Harris to cross.
Quins' aggressive defence kept them in it and they retook the lead when Hopkins came in on a great angle, running across the face of the Bulls defence before stepping through for the try.
The Bulls battered the Quins line, but the visitors' defence held firm until a high Rob Purdham tackle gave Deacon the chance to equalise but the scrum-half his penalty wide.
But Deacon got a second chance on 78 minutes as Henderson's charge from dummy-half earned a penalty although Quins felt that Hape had manipulated the situation.