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Fri February 6 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Leeds Rhinos 28 d. Celtic Crusaders 6 at
Headingley, Leeds, UKCrowd: 14,827
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Bradford Bulls 12 l. Huddersfield Giants 16 at
Odsal Stadium, Bradford, Yorkshire, UKCrowd: 10,186
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Hull FC 28 d. Les Catalans Dragons 12 at
Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, UKCrowd: 12,482
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: St Helens 19 l. Hull KR 20 at
Knowsley Road, St Helens, UKCrowd: 11,830
Fri February 27 2009, 8:00PM GMTFri: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 48 d. Warrington Wolves 22 at
Belle Vue Stadium, Wakefield, Yorkshire (UK)Crowd: 5,169
Sat February 28 2009, 5:30PM GMTSat: Harlequins 18 l. Wigan Warriors 24 at
The Stoop, Twickenham, UKCrowd: 3,883
Sat February 28 2009, 6:00PM GMTSat: Castleford Tigers 52 d. Salford City Reds 16 at
The Jungle, Wheldon Road, Castleford (UK)Crowd: 7,052
Sat February 28, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.ukHuddersfield Giants pulled off their first league win at Bradford for 40 years to maintain their bright start under new coach Nathan Brown.
Full-back and skipper Brett Hodgson was the inspiration as the Giants followed up their shock opening 30-8 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan by claiming a second major scalp in three matches.
They were forced to withstand an early barrage from the Bulls as captain Paul Deacon kicked them into a 6-0 lead, but the Giants fought back to earn a 10-6 interval advantage thanks to tries from Martin Aspinwall and Jamahl Lolesi.
They then defended superbly in the face of more intense pressure in the second half to secure a famous win.
Bradford gave a debut to former Harlequins second-rower Michael Worrincy while prop Matt James was named on the bench after being recalled from his loan spell with Halifax to help offset the loss of back-row pair David Solomona and Jamie Langley.
With veteran Australian forwards Glen Morrison and Steve Menzies setting a superb lead, the Bradford pack quickly got on top of the visitors in an impressive opening.
Huddersfield were slow starters and found themselves trailing 6-0 after 19 minutes after Deacon kicked three penalty goals, two of them from 40 metres out.
But the Giants scored the game's first try from their first meaningful attack after 22 minutes when second-rower Andy Raleigh squeezed out a pass for winger Aspinwall to touch down at the corner.
That gave Huddersfield just the encouragement they needed and substitutes David Faiumu, Lolesi and Danny Kirmond provided major impact from the bench.
And it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead a minute before the break when Lolesi raced onto a perfectly-judged grubber kick from Hodgson, who added the conversion.
Huddersfield suffered a blow two minutes into the second half when former Bradford forward Simon Finnigan hobbled off after being "crunched" by the impressive Sam Burgess.
Bradford then lost Deacon with a cut head - but not before he had restored his side's lead by converting their first try of the match on 44 minutes.
Stand-off Ben Jeffries got Morrison into a gap and he had the strength to force his way over the line.
Deacon's fourth goal from as many attempts made it 12-10 but the visitors struck back after 56 minutes when Hodgson got stand-off Kevin Brown striding through a hole in the Bulls defence and second-rower Stephen Wilde was in support to finish off.
Hodgson's second conversion made it 16-12 as the game entered a thrilling final quarter dominated by the home side.
Menzies lost the ball over the line and Huddersfield scrum-half Luke Robinson made a timely interception from the second-rower to deny the Bulls as they piled ono the pressure.
Huddersfield's defence was tested to the limit but they hung on to claim the spoils.
Fri February 27, 2009
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.ukBradford Coach Steve McNamara previews tonight's Round 3 Super League at the Grattan Stadium when the Bulls take on the Huddersfield Giants.
STEVE McNAMARAHUDDERSFIELD HAVE HAD A GOOD START TO THE SEASON?
They have. They have been very strong and to go to Catalans and win is no mean feat. Watching the video of that game they certainly played well and the scoreline reflected their dominance and obviously last week against St Helens they were well in the game until late on. It was only in the last five minutes that Saints put the game beyond doubt. They were very competitive again and they have had a solid start and they will be tough for us.
WITH THE ENFORCED BREAK LAST WEEK, IT HAS BEEN A DISRUPTIVE START FOR THE SEASON FOR YOU?
Well it hasn't been smooth has it? We had they disruption of our game being brought forward a week and then it got cancelled, we played and then had another week off, so yes it has certainly been different for us but we are fine with it and are really well prepared for this week. I think we had some issues in Round 1, things like timing and not executing things as well as we should have done, and they were certainly things we needed to look at. We feel we have fixed those up and we are certainly ready to go on Friday.
YOU PLAYED WITH NATHAN BROWN AT ST GEORGE. WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF HIM AS A COACH?
I played lower grades with him there. He was a very, very good player who unfortunately had to retire through injury otherwise he would probably still be playing now. He is a good bloke and a good Coach. I think it's a bit too early in the season to say he has stamped his mark on the Giants yet because Huddersfield have been a really competitive side for a number of years. They have been very strong and he has obviously gone into a good environment there and will have started to lay markers down but at this stage of the season he will still be finding out a lot about them.
SQUADBulls Coach Steve McNamara has announced his 19 man squad ahead of the game against Huddersfield Giants at the Grattan Stadium on Friday.
As expected Matt James comes into the squad and there is a first call up for 19 year's old Back Row Forward, Elliott Whitehead. Shoulder injury victims David Solomona and Jamie Langley are the players omitted together with long term injury victims, Andy Lynch and Tame Tupou.
David Solomona will undergo surgery on his injured shoulder on Monday and will be out for between ten and twelve weeks but Jamie Langley will not need an operation and should be back in about three.
The Squad is: Matt Cook, Elliott Whitehead, Rikki Sheriffe, Sam Burgess, Paul Sykes, Nick Scruton, Steve Menzies, Terry Newton, Jason Crookes, Paul Deacon, Matt James, Glenn Morrison, Wayne Godwin, Craig Kopczak, Ben Jeffries, Semi Tadulala, Michael Worrincy, Michael Platt, Chris Nero.
MILESTONES
TERRY NEWTON needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 24 tries in 73 appearances.
SEMI TADULALA needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 24 tries in only 27 appearances.
Round 3
Bradford Bulls 12 l. Huddersfield Giants 16
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