Round 19
Wigan Warriors 25 d. Bradford Bulls 18

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Bailey's double helps Wigan to victory after dramatic week
Sat July 7, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

A match-winning performance from two-try Australian centre Phil Bailey inspired Wigan Warriors to what could prove to be a crucial victory over Bradford Bulls.

The Warriors produced arguably their best performance of the season at home to the Bulls.

Bradford had opened the scoring after just two minutes through James Evans thanks largely to poor tackling, but tries from Trent Barrett and a brace from Bailey put Wigan in charge at the break, with three Paul Deacon goals keeping the Bulls in touch.

Evans' second try and another goal from Deacon edged the Bulls in front but further tries from Mark Calderwood and David Vaeliki gave Wigan the spoils, deservedly so having outscored Bradford by five tries to two.

Warriors coach Brian Noble had largely chosen to keep faith with the 17 that performed so woefully at Wakefield last week, with only Colbon coming in for the injured Pat Richards on the wing and youngster Mike McIlorum replacing Shane Millard on the bench.

The Bulls were facing up to their first game since the departure of Lesley Vainikolo, while they were again without the injured Iestyn Harris at half-back.

If the Warriors were hoping to get last week's horror show out of their system, they suffered a sickening sense of deja vu in the first set.

David Vaealiki's attempted tackle on Chris McKenna was not worthy of the description, and the supporting Glenn Morrison walked through Chris Ashton's clutches from the offload.

The Bulls were temporarily held up by the cover defence, but Deacon floated a lovely kick to the left-hand corner that found Evans in room on his own to cross.

Deacon's goal gave Bradford the perfect start and, after a long ball from Barrett was picked off by Andy Lynch, the big prop made fully 50 metres before Ashton chased him down.

The Wigan defence was stretched and Calderwood was happy to concede two points to Deacon for holding down in the tackle when a four-point concession looked the likelier alternative.

Back came Wigan and Barrett won the race to his own kick to touch down by the posts, Ashton's goal reducing the arrears to two points.

Lynch almost scored his side's second try at the midway point of the half when he tried to take Barrett over the line with him, but the Aussie stand-off, aided by a big second effort by Sean O'Loughlin, just held him up on his back.

The incident seemed to kick-start Wigan as they gave the ball some air and started to make real inroads into the visiting defence.

Gareth Hock and Thomas Leuluai were held just short, before Bailey burrowed his way over from dummy half to edge his men in front at 10-8.

However, Mickey Higham was adjudged to have obstructed a would-be tackler from the kick-off, and the deadly boot of Deacon made it 10-10.

Bailey was not to be denied and, after Deacon uncharacteristically kicked out on the full, he crashed over for his second try just two minutes from half-time to open up a four-point cushion.

The Bulls were back on level terms 11 minutes into the second period, when David Solomona's superbly disguised inside ball freed Evans to cross for his and Bradford's second try.

Deacon's conversion and a penalty shortly after gave his side a four-point advantage heading onto the final quarter.

A cheap penalty gave Wigan a repeat set and quick hands from Fletcher and Barrett got Calderwood over in the right-hand corner, and part-time kicker Ashton kicked the conversion to make it 18-16.

Colbon scored Wigan's fifth try in the dying stages from a Leuluai kick, and Barrett's drop goal put the Warriors further clear.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Noble denies need for extra drive

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