Round 21
Warrington Wolves 32 d. Bradford Bulls 28

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

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

Warrington comeback to edge out Bradford
Sat July 12, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Warrington Wolves overturned a 12-point deficit to maintain their engage Super League revival under James Lowes at the expense of Bradford Bulls.

The Wolves trailed 12-0 and 24-12 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium but produced a strong second-half showing to secure a fifth win from six since former Bulls hooker Lowes took over as coach.

The prolific Chris Hicks, Matt King and Louis Anderson all touched down after the break for the hosts to add to Martin Gleeson's earlier double.

Bradford had made a blistering start with tries inside the opening eight minutes from Andy Lynch and Chris Nero but defeat was their second in succession and fifth in seven games.

Semi Tadulala, Michael Platt and Ben Jeffries also crossed with Paul Deacon, returning after missing seven games with a hamstring injury, adding four goals but the Wolves held on in a tight finish.

Bradford took the lead in fortuitous fashion after five minutes when Deacon's kick took a wicked deflection off Adrian Morley and was pounced on by Lynch.

Warrington were caught again moments later when David Solomona slipped a superb ball out wide to Tadulala, who broke clear down the left and cut inside two defenders to set up Nero.

Deacon converted both to leave the Wolves facing an uphill battle but the hosts looked proficient in attack and were unlucky when a strong Michael Monaghan pass meant for someone else caught Briers unawares.

Gleeson brought Warrington back into the game with a brilliant 90-metre burst after being put into a gap by King.

The England centre slowed briefly to side-step Michael Platt on halfway but then raced away to touch down without needing the support of flying winger Kevin Penny.

Chris Riley then exposed another hole in the Bulls defence but this time Solomona got back to tackle.

Platt was then alert to grab a loose ball as the Wolves pressed again and the full-back thought he had created a try for Craig Kopczak before the break but it was ruled out for offside.

Tadulala did claim a third Bradford try when he leapt above a static Riley to catch a Deacon kick at the second attempt and touch down.

Deacon again converted but a knock on by Tadulala gave Warrington another chance and Gleeson stretched out to score, with Hicks again on target.

The Bulls responded within moments of the restart as Platt strolled over from dummy half, taking two Wolves players with him.

Yet Warrington were far from done and hit back again from a scrum, Hicks taking a Briers pass at a sharp angle to jink his way over for his 13th try of the season.

The hosts then stepped up the pressure with Briers powering forward and Monaghan firing out a long pass for King to take at speed and score.

With Hicks converting both, the scores were level at 24-24, and Warrington kept up the momentum as Jon Clarke put Louis Anderson over.

Hicks converted and then added a penalty after Solomona was sinbinned for a late tackle on Briers.

Bradford rallied with Jamie Langley breaking out wide and then finding Jeffries with a long pass inside but Deacon missed the kick and Warrington ran down the clock.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk

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