Round 12
Bradford Bulls 26 d. Wigan Warriors 12

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Impressive first half seals Bulls victory over Wigan
Mon April 28, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Bradford Bulls survived a tense finish to deny Wigan Warriors second place in engage Super League.

The Bulls seemed set for a convincing victory after blitzing their Grattan Stadium visitors with early tries from Semi Tadulala, Shontayne Hape and Ben Jeffries.

Wigan responded through Pat Richards and Phil Bailey in the second half but the Bulls just had enough and James Evans settled the win in the last minute.

Wigan famously overturned a 30-6 deficit to win a play-off classic on their last visit to Odsal and it looked like a similar comeback might be required after the Bulls hit the ground running.

Warriors talisman Trent Barrett, whose future at the club has been the subject of speculation this week, began the game on the bench to ease his return after minor knee surgery.

But the architect of last September's stunning fightback was soon required as the Bulls powered over for three tries in the opening 15 minutes.

Tadulala claimed the first when Glenn Morrison put him over in the corner after six minutes and Hape doubled the advantage with a storming run from a David Solomona pass.

Terry Newton then created the third when his heavy-looking kick bounced kindly behind the posts to sit up nicely for Jeffries to pounce.

Fit-again scrum-half Paul Deacon, restored as kicker despite Iestyn Harris landing a club record 15 goals in last week's 98-6 Carnegie Challenge Cup rout of Toulouse, converted one and added a later penalty.

Wigan struggled to gain momentum with one promising move ending as Darrell Goulding tossed the ball into touch and another when Evans got back to beat Richards to a Barrett kick.

A powerful Iafeta Palea'aesina break also came to nothing and all Wigan had to show for their first-half efforts was a Richards penalty in added-on time.

The Bulls again looked the dominant force at the start of the second half with Harris going close and further pressure almost creating a chance for Evans.

But Wigan's defence proved tougher than earlier and held firm before Richards offered the visitors hope by sneaking a try in the corner just after the hour.

Deacon edged the Bulls further in front with another penalty but Wigan set up a tense finish with a controversial second try.

Mick Higham powered forward after the Bulls had thought Gareth Hock had knocked on and then there seemed a suspicion of a forward pass before Bailey touched down.

Richards converted to cut the deficit to 18-12 but Deacon eased a sense of growing tension with another goal of his own.

Evans made sure of the victory in the final minute with a try out wide after a break down the right and Deacon converted.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Noble quiet on Barrett future


Bulls Eye: Bradford v Wigan
Fri April 25, 2008
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

In this weeks Bulls Eye Bradford Coach Steve McNamara and hooker Terry Newton look ahead to Sunday's Super League Round 12 game when Wigan come to the Grattan Stadium looking for the double over the Bulls.

STEVE McNAMARA
IT WILL BE A TOUGH GAME AGAINST WIGAN THIS WEEK?
Tell me one that isn't a tough game at this stage. Any two points is precious and every time you step out on the field you are in for a tough battle. We would really like to do well in this game, play well and pick the two points up but we know we have a lot of things we need to do in the game to enable us to do that and we are confident that we can.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WIGAN'S SEASON SO FAR?
They have been very good. They are sitting there in second spot and a point or two in front of the chasing back, so they will be happy with where they are and their form.

HOW IS YOUR SQUAD LOOKING?
We are looking OK. Joe Vagana will miss out this week but apart from him we have a full squad so I have a few selection headaches this week.

TERRY NEWTON
WIGAN IS A DIFFICULT GAME THIS WEEK?
Wigan are a very good side and up there in second spot. They are playing very well this year and deserve to be where they are. We have been a little bit off so far this year so Sunday for us is about turning up with the right attitude and get the job gone.

WIGAN IS YOUR HOMETOWN CLUB. IS IT SPECIAL PLAYING AGAINST THEM?
It's always good to play against Wigan. I still have a lot of friends there, both in the team and friends who support Wigan but I am a Bradford player now and really enjoying being here. It's a great club to play for and my focus will be to try and make sure we take the points today.

WHO DO YOU SEE AS THE DANGER MEN FOR THEM?
We from one to seventeen they are very dangerous and like I said they are playing well but obviously Trent Barrett is right up there with the best and if Gareth Hock comes back, which I think he will, then he is always a danger but we can't afford to concentrate on too many individuals. We have to stop them as a team.

SQUAD
Steve McNamara welcomes back, Paul Deacon, Andy Lynch, Shontayne Hape and Chris Nero to the squad that defeated Toulouse last week.

The 19 man Squad is: Sam Burgess, Paul Sykes, Shontayne Hape, Glenn Morrison (c), James Evans, Dave Halley, Michael Platt, Chris Nero, Iestyn Harris, Wayne Godwin, Ben Jeffries, Simon Finnigan, Andy Lynch, Semi Tadulala, David Solomona, Terry Newton, Craig Kopczak, Paul Deacon, Jamie Langley.

MILESTONES
PAUL DEACON has kicked 42 goals from 49 attempts this season for an average of 85.71%.

IESTYN HARRIS needs 2 Tries for a career total of 150. He has scored 148 Tries for Warrington, Leeds, Bradford, Gt. Britain, Wales and Gt. Britain Under 21's. He also needs 2 points for a total of 300 for the Bulls, having scored 33 tries, 82 goals and 2 drop goals in 117 appearances since joining them in July 2004.

WAYNE GODWIN needs 8 points for a career total of 300. The Hooker has scored 33 tries and kicked 80 goals in his 153 appearances.

News sent by: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

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