Rugby

Craig Kopczak put in a Man of the Match performance and scored a hat-trick of tries as the Bradford Bulls claimed their second successive victory with a 40 points to 18 win over the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Odsal Stadium.

Although Wakefield Trinity Wildcats took an early lead thanks to Frankie Mariano, the hosts responded in emphatic style with tries from Tom Olbison, and two scores each from Shad Royston and Kopczak.

Luke George pulled one back for the visitors but Shaun Ainscough and Kopczak’s third of the afternoon ensured there was no way back - despite Kieran Hyde crossing for John Kear's men at the death.

After claiming a narrow 30-26 win at Crusaders RL last week, Bulls coach Mick Potter had called for an improved performance today. However, they got off to the worst possible start.

After forcing the Bulls into a goal-line drop out, Wakefield’s continued pressure brought about the first try in the fifth minute.

The ball was worked out to Tommy Lee on the right and his quick pass allowed Mariano to wriggle free of two Bradford defenders before going over.

Three minutes later, though, once Michael Platt and Ainscough had broken free, it was only a matter of time before the Bulls levelled matters.

And so it proved when Brett Kearney fed Olbison who burst through a stretched Wakefield defence to touch down.

Marc Herbert, making his debut for Potter’s men, was then inches away from getting his hands on Matt Diskin’s grubber before Royston went over unchallenged in the 17th minute after superb handling on the left from Gareth Raynor and Patrick Ah Van.

Bradford weathered a heavy spell of pressure, in which Glenn Morrison dropped the ball after crossing the line, but they scored two quick tries to take a comfortable lead at the break.

First, Danny Addy’s short pass allowed fellow substitute Kopczak to crash past a weak tackle from Josh Veivers and over the line in the 34th minute.

The ever-impressive duo of Addy and Kopczak combined once more for Bradford’s fourth score of the afternoon two minutes later - the former’s offload allowing Wales international Kopczak to go in.

With Ah Van adding the extras from every try and Veivers converting from the Wildcats' score, the hosts took a 24-6 lead at half-time.

Any thoughts of a demolition were quickly dispelled, though, as the visitors made a bright start to the second half, like they had in the first, but more stoic defending from Bradford prevented them from narrowing the deficit.

And Bradford made the Wildcats pay for wasting several chances as, after George had made a handling error to gift them possession, Royston collected the ball from Platt to go over in the 61st minute before Ah Van added the extras.

To their credit, the visitors did not give up hope and after Josh Griffin had plucked Herbert’s kick from the air, the centre ran the length off the field before teeing up George to cross four minutes later.

Ainscough put paid to any hopes of a comeback in the 68th minute with a try as the Wakefield defence could not deal with Herbert’s grubber.

Ah Van failed to convert for the first time, but Kopczak crossed for his treble seven minutes from time to ensure the win.

Wakefield did grab a consolation on the hooter and Hyde’s try was converted by Veivers.