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ACADEMY COMPLETE DOUBLE OVER SAINTS
A hard fought 30-24 victory at Knowsley Road allowed the Bulls to complete a double over St Helens this season.
The Bulls were ahead after just twenty seconds. The force of George Burgess' tackle caused the Saints Full Back to spill the kick off and James Donaldson picked up the loose ball to put Burgess over by the side of the posts, Wardle adding the conversion. The Bulls went further ahead when a neat kick by Liam Kay was again fumbled by the St Helens defence and Robert Hawthorne was on hand to touchdown in the corner. Wardle's superb touchline conversion gave the Bulls a 12-0 lead after only six minutes. The Bulls should have gone further ahead as they relentlessly hammed the Saints line but poor handling and discipline cost them dear and Saints, aidied by back to back penalties, finally crossed for a converted try. They were soon back down on the Bulls line and went over for their second try on thirty two minutes but the Bulls went further in front on the stroke of half time when Lewis Reed took Donaldson's pass to score at the side of the posts and give the Bulls a 18 -10 lead at the break.
The Bulls poor handling continued at the start of the second period and they dropped the ball early in the tackle count in the first four sets of the half. By the time they completed a set they were trailing 18-20 but a penalty saw them retake the lead through Danny Addy's try. Again Wardle converted but the Bulls were caught out as Saints decided to run the last play after great defence by Wardle looked to have stopped their momentum. They quickly worked the ball to their left edge and, with the Bulls standing like statues, levelled the scores.
Tom Olbison got the Bulls back in front on the hour and apart from a missed Joe Wardle penalty three minutes from time and a poor attempt at a Drop Goal from Donaldson, that completed the scoring for the afternoon.
The Bulls certainly made hard work of the victory - their first this month - and only the superb kicking of Joe Wardle was the difference as Saints also scored five tries but any win at Knowsley Road is well worth taking and this was no exception.
Bradford Bulls : Ben Hellewell; Kyle Williamson, Liam McKay, Rob Hawthorne, Matt Harding; Joe Wardle, Liam Kay; George Burgess, Adam O’Brien, Tom Lillycrop, Danny Addy, Tom Olbison, James Donaldson. Subs. Gareth Hynes, Aaron Blake, Lewis Reed, Tom Burgess.
Bulls scorers: Tries: G Burgess, Hawthorne, Reed, Addy, Olbison. Goals: Wardle 5