Rugby

REPORT

Celtic Crusaders claimed their first engage Super League win against the Bradford Bulls with a hard faught 24-30 victory at a rain swept Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

Nervously clinging on to a 26-24 lead, Luke Dyer settled the match in the Welsh side’s favour with his second try of the afternoon in the last minute.

Chris Beasley, David Tangata-Toa and Lincoln Withers also touched down as the Crusaders ended their 11-game losing streak.

Josh Hannay’s five goals also proved crucial on a wet and gloomy afternoon at the Grattan Stadium.

The error-prone Bulls were far from their best but got themselves back into contention when Paul Sykes slid over to set up a nervy finish with two minutes remaining.

The first half was a tense affair with the Crusaders grinding out an 8-6 lead and Bradford grateful for Andy Lynch’s effort seconds before the hooter.

Beasley rushed in to open the scoring after eight minutes as Dave Halley dropped a Jace van Dijk kick.

Halley did much better the next time the Crusaders seriously threatened after a Withers break, sliding in to deal with another probing Van Dijk grubber.

Hannay added a penalty midway through the first half but the Crusaders were almost caught out when the lethargic Bulls finally pieced together a decent move.

Terry Newton broke the line from deep and, with options either side, a try seemed likely but Sykes was unable to take in his pass.

The Crusaders extended their lead with a Hannay goal four minutes before the break.

With the interval approaching, Bradford at last managed to get themselves on the scoreboard as Ben Flower spilled Jeffries’ kick and Lynch pounced.

Paul Deacon converted but it did not spark an immediate Bulls revival as the Crusaders upped a gear to take a firm grip with two tries early in the second half.

Tangata-Toa grabbed the first of them when he barged his way over from close range and Withers followed him over when he raced on to a clever kick by Matty Smith.

Hannay converted both to give the Welsh side a 20-6 lead with 30 minutes remaining.

Bradford needed to respond and at last managed to put the Crusaders under pressure as Anthony Blackwood conceded a drop out.

It proved too much for Celtic and Jeffries sent Michael Worrincy through a gap to give the Bulls hope.

Deacon further reduced the deficit but the Crusaders were unbowed and Dyer leapt above Michael Platt to touch down a Van Dijk kick for a fourth try.

Yet back the Bulls came and cut the gap to 24-18 with 11 minutes remaining as Jeffries sent over veteran Australian Steve Menzies with a smart reverse pass and Deacon goaled.

Hannay gave the Crusaders more breathing space with a coolly taken penalty from halfway with five minutes left.

Sykes found a gap to set up a tense finale but Dyer found space out wide in the dying seconds to spark Welsh celebrations.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

For Bradford, whose season continues to run hot and cold, the mood after the game contrasted sharply with that following their shock win at competition leaders St Helens three weeks ago.

Andy Lynch, Michael Worrincy and Steve Menzies also claimed tries to keep the Bulls in contention but coach Steve McNamara had no complaints about the result.

McNamara said: "We were way off the pace and I'm not sure why. We didn't have everyone singing off the same hymn sheet and that's very disappointing for us."

"Credit to Celtic, they worked very hard and I felt they deserved the win, no two ways about it."

"It probably would have been an injustice if we'd have snatched it, although we probably could have if we had concentrated from the final kick-off."

"But we wouldn't have deserved it and it is as disappointing as it gets. We were way off.

"I thought there were too many people off their game and were distracted."

Celtic Crusaders coach John Dixon hopes his side's stunning victory at Bradford today can prove a stepping stone for greater success.

Dixon said: "That will give us a lot of belief we can win games."

"I always felt we could compete but this will give us a bank of knowledge to say yes we can, and that we can survive an onslaught and come through it."

"With this win, there is belief in there now, there is a spring in their step. It's priceless."

Chris Beasley, David Tangata-Toa and Lincoln Withers also crossed for the Crusaders while Josh Hannay kicked five crucial goals.

The visitors led for all bar the first seven minutes of the game and Dixon felt the victory was just reward for their efforts.

He added: "Today was the first time we were able to match execution to effort."

"I thought our execution was the best it has been."

"It wasn't difficult conditions but it was greasy out there and I thought our ball control was outstanding and our kick-chase was great."