Rugby

REPORT

The Bradford Bulls ended their record losing run by coming from behind to beat the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats by 38 points to 28 in their last home game of the season at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal. 

The last time the Bulls managed to win was against the Wakefield Wildcats at Belle Vue back in May.

However, the Grattan Stadium outfit overcame a sluggish start and weathered a second-half Wakefield fightback to banish their recent woes.

Wakefield, who slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat, will look at what might have been after they surrendered a 12-0 lead as the loss ended any slim hopes they had of making the play-offs.

Lee St Hilaire's men did not get off to the most auspicious of starts though when Heath L'Estrange was penalised for holding Glenn Morrison down, which gave the Wildcats a chance to attack the Bradford try line.

The ball was quickly spread along the line and a good combination between Paul Johnson and Danny Kirmond resulted in the latter touching down.

Wakefield registered their second score after 12 minutes when Sam Obst's short grubber kick was well picked up by Daryl Millard and he evaded the challenge of two Bulls defenders to go across the whitewash.

Ben Jeffries added the extras for both tries to give the visitors a 12-0 advantage.

Bradford were not being outclassed however and they got on the scoresheet two minutes later from a move which started deep in their own half.

Michael Platt received the ball and burst through the static Wakefield defence before offloading to Paul Sykes.

He carried the ball 20 metres before passing to Brett Kearney, who ran nearly half the length of the field to score. Sykes halved the deficit with his conversion.

Despite being short of confidence due to their record losing streak, the Bulls levelled proceedings after the impressive Danny Addy's sharp pass allowed captain Andy Lynch to go over.

The momentum was clearly with the Bulls and, after Sykes had added two points to put his side in front for the first time, Wayne Godwin scored two converted tries in four minutes.

In the 36th minute, substitute Godwin rode the challenge of Aaron Murphy to cross the line.

His second try came in generous circumstances as Rikki Sheriffe's high infield kick bounced kindly for Godwin and the hooker went right under the posts.

After the interval, the Bulls carried on where they left off when Elliott Whitehead latched on to Kearney's grubber and went over.

Sykes continued his 100% record with the boot to put Bradford 20 points ahead.

To their credit, the visitors had not lost all hope and Obst superbly ran on to his own kick to cross the try line in the 52nd minute.

Wakefield seemed galvanised by the score and two minutes later former Bulls player Morrison capitalised on poor defending to power over the line.

The home side had to weather the storm as the Wildcats twice went close to scoring, however, Steve Menzies eased the pressure after a Bulls counter attack led to the veteran full-back scoring a converted try.

Sean Gleeson capitalised on yet more poor defending from the Bulls to go over unchallenged 15 minutes from time.

Bradford held on pretty comfortably in the end though and the relief at the full-time whistle was palpable as St Hilaire saw his men move above their opponents in the Engage Super League table.