Bradford Outmuscle Huddersfield In Epic At Odsal

ByJay Freeman
BBC Sport England


71 Comments


Bradford (4) 26


Tries: Ruan, Nikorima 2, Hooley Goals: Hooley 3, Atkin 2


Huddersfield (2) 14


Tries: Powell, Gagai Goals: Russell 3


Bradford Bulls made a third succeeding home Super League win, emerging triumphant from a legendary encounter against winless Huddersfield Giants.


In a cagey first half, Olly Russell and Luke Hooley exchanged kicks, with the latter effective to give Bradford a narrow half-time lead.


Tristan Powell struck for Huddersfield after the break however Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima countered for the Bulls.


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game however Bradford managed the win thanks to Hooley's late shot and Nikorima's second.


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who dropped to a fifth succeeding league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants mounted an admirable return in a thrilling 2nd half at Odsal.


Russell's early objective had pushed them ahead and, in an attritional first half, his kick was matched by Hooley later on.


The game sprung into life as half-time approached, with Zac Woolford penalised for a high arm on Hooley, who appropriately sent over another 2 points right in front of the posts.


Bradford sent Connor Wynne through for what they believed was the game's opening try but, after a prolonged review by video referee James Vella, his score was chalked off when it was evaluated Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he became active when in possession.


Super League


Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers


15:00 GMT on Saturday, 21 March


Wynne was later at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, resulting in Powell believing quickly to occupy and then go over for the very first shot of the night.


Yet it was some fast thinking from Bradford that assisted them respond, as they worked the ball from their own goalline into Ruan's try within 60 seconds and then Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his debut to extend the .


Huddersfield then scored one of the more adventurous tries of the night, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had actually been anticipating it to bounce dead - and dotted down with inches to spare to put the visitors within 2.


Bradford polished off the win in fine fettle with Nikorima first offloading to Hooley, who perfectly sold a dummy before entering at the corner, before the former Salford man damaged his method over for a 2nd.


Five first-half shots assist St Helens past Toulouse


'Jayden was the video game's best gamer' - response


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were actually good, they showed a determination and we didn't handle their big bodies (well) at times in the first half, they got a roll on and we battled with it.


"Ultimately, when we got into the game we began playing our design - it took us too long to do that once we grew into the video game and began enhancing our line speed, I believed that begun to turn the video game.


"I thought Jayden was easily the best gamer on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I simply wanted him to defend well and take the line on, however he's a first-class gamer, he's been chomping at the bit to play.


"He was the distinction, wasn't he? He simply needs to keep enhancing, keep focusing on his defence first and after that the rest of his game will come."


Huddersfield employer Luke Robinson informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had the bulk of the ball. But it makes it extremely hard to attack on this field, it's small.


"Very rarely will you go round people but I felt we ought to have made a bit more of the field positions, in attack we were a little bit blunt and didn't offer enough with the ball.


"Second half we offered a seven-tackle set away, they scored, we got back into it, we provided a seven-tackle set away again, they scored, we kicked one out on the complete and it just heaps so much pressure on us.


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we should still have the resilience to defend that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the shirt. At the moment, things are simply somewhat off."


Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Armitage, Ryan; Nikorima, Hooley; Sutton, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Chamberlain, Ruan, Mellor.


Interchanges: Atkin, Lolesio, Hallas, Souter.


Huddersfield: King; Woolford, Burgess, O'Donnell, Patolo; Powell, Russell; Lolohea, Gagai, Milne, McCormack, Lumb, Zenon.


Interchanges: Rogers, Rush, Cozza, Cassell.


Referee: Aaron Moore.


Huddersfield Giants