Rugby

REPORT

The Bradford Bulls stood up to be counted as the Warrington Wolves scraped by with an unconvincing 10-23 victory over a defiant and enthusiastic Bulls side at a rain drenched Odsal Stadium. 

The result leaves Bradford in eighth spot after losing all three home games so far, both their victories coming on their travels, but there were genuine grounds for renewed play-off hopes.

The Bulls conceded 122 points in their two Super League meetings with Warrington in 2011 but outplayed them for long periods tonight and had two first-half tries disallowed.

The game started badly for the Wolves, with Briers failing to find touch with a relieving penalty, and they conceded a fifth-minute try to Bradford hooker Matt Diskin, who forced his way over from acting half-back on the last tackle.

Jarrod Sammut added the conversion to give the Yorkshiremen a 6-0 lead.

Briers almost made amends when he jinked his way to the Bulls line but he was unable to ground the ball and, clearly hurt in his tryscoring effort, was forced off the field shortly afterwards.

Stefan Ratchford was a natural replacement and Mickey Higham made the most of his first start for 12 months with a lively contribution, particularly in the first half.

Warrington scored their first try through winger Chris Riley, who took advantage of a controversial cut-out pass by full-back Brett Hodgson to cross at the corner on 18 minutes, but the Bulls were the better side for most of the first half and had two tries disallowed by video referee Ben Thaler.

Sammut had a charge-down effort ruled out for offside while slow-motion replays indicated centre Michael Platt had a foot in touch when he planted the ball over the line after Elliott Kear had cleverly palmed back Ben Jeffries’ kick to the corner.

Instead of being comfortably in front by the break, the home side found themselves trailing after the Wolves scored on a rare foray into the Bulls 20-metre area.

Ratchford was brought down short after a jinking run but Higham made the most of the position to dummy his way over from acting half-back and Chris Bridge’s goal made it 10-6.

Warrington had Briers back for the start of the second half but only at the expense of Hodgson, who succumbed to a knock he took before the break, so Ratchford went to full-back.

Bradford, who gave a debut to Tongan prop Manase Manuokafoa in the absence of Nick Scruton, who withdrew for personal reasons following the birth of his first child, continued to make a mockery of their previous form with some neat build-up play but they could not match their opponents’ finishing skills.

A promising move broke down when Sammut’s kick was charged down and Atkins picked up the loose ball to race 80 metres for a breakaway try, with Bridge kicking his second conversion to open up a 10-point lead.

Bridge, another former Bradford player, then angered the home crowd by using his elbow on a prone Jeffries but referee Thiery Alibert took no action other than to award a penalty.

The Wolves confirmed their fourth win when second rower Trent Waterhouse stretched out to plant the ball on the line for his side’s fourth try and Briers put over a drop goal, although Bradford had the last word with a consolation score when winger Jason Crookes scored at the corner.