Round 26
Bradford Bulls 42 d. Hull KR 18

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

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

Bradford come from 18 down to win by 24
Wed August 27, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Bradford Bulls overcame an 18-point deficit to keep alive their hopes of a top-four finish in engage Super League and finally quash Hull Kingston Rovers' chances of making the play-offs.

Justin Morgan's side had looked set for an easy victory when they raced into an 18-0 lead inside the first quarter after Kris Welham went over and Mick Vella scored twice.

But the Bulls charged back with eight unanswered tries to give Joe Vagana the perfect farewell on his final league appearance at Odsal.

Paul Sykes and Dave Halley narrowed the gap to just eight points at half-time before the hosts let rip with three tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

David Solomona powered over from close range after bursting on to a neat inside-ball from Paul Deacon and then offloaded to Semi Tadulala to push the Bulls ahead for the first time.

Matt Cook touched down after racing on to his own kick before Chris Nero was quickest to react to Deacon's hanging cross-field punt.

James Evans and Terry Newton wrapped up an ultimately convincing win in the final quarter.

Evans had an early attempt ruled out by the video referee but that was Bradford's only real attack in the first 20 minutes.

Instead, Welham pushed Rovers ahead with a 70-metre burst after intercepting Ben Jeffries' pass before Vella beat Jeffries and fended off Sykes to double the visitors' advantage.

Vella grabbed his second as Rovers capitalised on Simon Finnigan's forward pass to Solomona and they looked ready to cruise to the points.

But Bradford recovered enough purpose to post two tries before the break and it was one-way traffic after the restart.

The Bulls can now jump to fourth place in the final round of matches but they must win at Castleford Tigers and hope Warrington Wolves slip up against Huddersfield Giants.

Report Source: www.superleague.co.uk


Bulls Eye: Bradford v Hull KR
Sat August 23, 2008
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

Bradford coach Steve McNamara and prop Joe Vagana preview Monday's clash against Hull KR at the Grattan Stadium.

STEVE McNAMARA
DO YOU LOOK AT THE TABLE AND THINK 'WE ARE LOGICALLY GOING TO CATALANS IN THE PLAY OFF'S'?
At the minute we are going nowhere and we have to get the result from this game. Where we end up is pure conjecture at the moment. It's certainly an exciting time of year and the way this game's set up makes it really important we get the result.

It's been a strange season and no side, apart from Saints and possibly Leeds early in the season, has really got to grips with it. Any side that manages to put two, three or four victories together has dramatically gone up the table and there's no better time to do that than at the end of the season when you can sneak up on everyone else.

We performed well at Leeds and didn't get the result and we performed well against Hull and did get the points and it's our focus to play well again this week and get the result again. It's only a couple of weeks ago that Hull KR had written off their chances of reaching the Play off's- after their performance against Harlequins ? and that's how quickly things can change. That's a credit to the league that such a thing can happen. Hull KR will see this as an opportunity to keep their hopes alive but we will be going into the game with a lot of confidence. They have been a side that has been inconsistent ? but who hasn't been? We need to prepare for them to be the best they can be and we must make sure that we are the best we can be too and we'll take it from there.

PAUL DEACON CAME BACK LAST WEEK; WHAT'S THE INJURY SITUATION AT THE MOMENT?
Pretty similar to last week really. Iestyn Harris has been unable to train with us up to know - he has a quad strain and missed last week, Dave Halley fell in a divot on the pitch with no one around him but it looks like he will be OK for Monday. We don't have too many options and it's just a case of keeping the ones who are healthy in that condition.

JOE VAGANA
WILL IT BE AN EMOTIONAL TIME FOR YOU TODAY?
It will be emotional but I won't let it affect me until after the game. We desperately need the two points because we want to finish as high as possible in that Top Six. I have told the guys I have three Gold Rings for my three boys and I need another one for my daughter!! It will be tough because Hull KR will be coming here in a great mood after their success at Warrington last week, so we will have to continue with the improvements we have made.

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE WIN LAST WEEK?
We played very well against Hull but we still have some room for improvement. They came here looking to get a roll on for the final but we stopped them in their tracks. It was good to have Deacs back and hr certainly got us round the park. We played some good Rugby, some tough defence and scored a lot of points. We just need to back it up again this week.

YOU GOT THE ELUSIVE FIRST TRY OF THE SEASON LAST WEEK?
I managed to get the try I needed to ensure that I keep my trousers up. I have been a professional now for fifteen years and I have never had to do a naked run and I didn't intend to this year. My pants have stayed up right through my career and I am very proud of that fact!! I thought the try was from forty metres but looking at the stats I now realise it was nineteen but nineteen or ninety; they all count!!

SQUAD
Steve McNamara will name his 19 man squad after training on Saturday.

MILESTONES
PAUL DEACON, who has kicked 81 goals from 94 attempts this season for an average of 86.17%, will make his 300th appearance for the club. He is the leading Points Scorer and Goal Kicker for the club with 2392 pts and 1063 goals including drop goals.

JAMIE LANGLEY will make his 150th appearance for the club. He has scored 31 tries.

SIMON FINNIGAN needs 4 points for a career total of 200. He has scored 49 tries in his 146 appearances.

JOE VAGANA, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season, will make his last appearance, subject to Play Off games, at the Grattan Stadium. He has made 239 appearances for the club.

News Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

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