Rugby

REPORT

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats avoided Engage Super League's wooden spoon with their first win in 10 games against Bradford Bulls tonight.

The Wildcats ran in five tries in a scrappy affair and their success lifted them above Crusaders RL at the foot of the table following the Welsh side’s 42-10 defeat at Wigan.

Wakefield never trailed after Paul Johnson’s 14th-minute try and further first-half scores from Ryan Tongia and Michael Korkidis were followed by Tommy Lee and Julien Rinaldi after the break.

Bradford had briefly threatened mid-way through the first period when back-to-back tries from Kyle Briggs and Shaun Ainscough left them 10-8 behind.

But the visitors, who will be happy to put a forgettable season behind them, could only add a converted Shad Royston penalty after half-time.

The Wildcats’ fans have had little reason for cheer in recent months with only the retention of their Super League licence offering optimism away from their on-field performances.

They headed into tonight’s game staring at the possibility of the wooden spoon but opened up a 10-0 lead after 21 minutes when Johnson and Tongia both crossed over the whitewash.

Bradford have provided few highlights themselves in recent times and they initially looked determined not to go out with a whimper as they battled back to 10-8 when Briggs and Ainscough touched down in the space of three minutes.

Wakefield steadied though and Korkidis crashed over a minute before the break to put the hosts back in the driving seat at 16-8.

Wakefield’s success was then virtually assured when they were first over after the re-start with Lee’s 60th-minute score converted by Josh Veivers.

Full-back Royston crossed for Bradford on 67 minutes with Patrick Ah Van converting.

It arrived too late for an unlikely comeback and Rinaldi wrapped things up for Wakefield with a try a minute before the final hooter.