WAKEFIELD MATCH REPORT

Despite putting in a valiant effort, Bulls’ AB Sundecks 1895 Cup journey came to an end at the semi-final stage thanks to a 14-40 loss to Wakefield Trinity at Bartercard Odsal Stadium.

It would be the eighth minute when Bulls’ promising start would be rewarded, breaking on the right and allowing the ball to be offloaded to Joe Arundel, who himself would provide a great pass to the hands of Zac Fulton, who simply couldn’t be stopped as he charged towards the try line, breaking a tackle before going over and sending the home crowd into some early pandemonium, with Jordan Lilley’s conversion ensuring a deserved 6-0 lead.

Lilley would find himself in the spotlight again just seven minutes later, winning a penalty from 10 metres out that in true Lilley fashion, was dispatched with ease, giving Bradford another two points and making their lead a little more comfortable.

This would spur Trinity on and the visitors began to enjoy their best spell of the game so far, but this allowed Bulls to begin a series of defensive heroics, many of which were inside the final 10 as their opponents looked to get on the board for the first time.

The most notable of these moments came courtesy of Jorge Taufua, with a huge tackle on the try line in the 28th minute to stop a certain try for Trinity.

Not long after conceding a penalty, Bradford would be made to rue their error as Wakefield moved up the pitch quickly before getting into the final 10 and allowing Ky Rodwell to crash over the try line, bringing the scoreline to 8-6 after a successful conversion, a fact that would remain as the half came to a close.

The second half got underway with Wakefield taking the lead for the first time in the 42nd minute, with Matty Ashurst making the most of the last tackle to break through the Bulls’ defence and go over, before the conversion meant that Trinity now had an 8-12 lead.

From here, the visitors really began to show just why they’ve been tipped for both league and cup glory, going over again only four minutes later thanks to Liam Hood after a quick move up the pitch from the middle from his team.

Bulls looked to have responded quickly themselves, with Kieran Gill capping off what looked like a fine move in the 51st minute before making it over the try line and placing the ball down, but even with the music playing around the stadium, the officials deemed there to have been no try, a huge setback for Bradford at a key moment in the game.

Trinity would make the most of this event and regain possession of the ball before going over once again thanks to Ashurst in the 53rd minute, with the Wakefield captain extending Wakefield’s lead.

Wakefield scored again after a superb offload from Iain Thornley in the final 10 found the hands of Jermaine McGillvary, allowing the right winger to score with ease and extend his side’s lead to 8-28 after the conversion.

However, Gill would manage to get his try after his earlier score was denied, with Lilley spotting a gap in the 67th minute that allowed him to grubber the ball to Gill, who managed to get over and have his try confirmed on this occasion, with the conversion reducing the deficit to 14-28.

Bradford’s joy would be brief, with Wakefield soon regaining possession and again moving up the pitch quickly before Renouf Atoni gained possession in the final 10 and go over in the 72nd minute, making it 14-34 after the conversion.

The icing on the cake would come for Trinity only three minutes later after Derrell Olpherts would have a break of his own that allowed him to go over comfortably, with the conversion making it 14-40 and completing what on paper was a comfortable victory for the visitors, but Bulls should take no shame following a superb effort from everyone involved that should give the team momentum and belief as they return to league action for their next game against Sheffield Eagles at Bartercard Odsal Stadium.

BRADFORD BULLS: Aidan McGowan, Jayden Myers, Joe Arundel, Kieran Gill, Jorge Taufua, Tom Holmes, Jordan Lilley, Eribe Doro, Mitch Souter, Michael Lawrence, Zac Fulton, Harvey Wilson, John Davies. INTERCHANGES: Dan Okoro, Tyran Ott, Keven Appo, Fenton Rogers. 18th MAN: Eliot Peposhi.

TRIES: Fulton, Gill

GOALS: Lilley 3/3