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 earned a third succeeding home Super League win, emerging triumphant from an impressive encounter against winless Huddersfield Giants.


In a cagey very 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 but Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima countered for the Bulls.


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the video game but Bradford managed the win courtesy of Hooley's late shot and Nikorima's 2nd.


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


Russell's early objective had nudged them ahead and, in an attritional very first half, his kick was matched by Hooley in the future.


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


Bradford sent Connor Wynne through for what they thought was the video game's opening shot however, after a prolonged evaluation by video referee James Vella, his rating was chalked off when it was judged Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he ended up being 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, causing Powell believing rapidly to take possession and after that discuss for the very first try of the night.


Yet it was some quick thinking from Bradford that assisted them react, as they worked the ball from their own goalline into Ruan's try within one minute and after that Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his to extend the hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored one of the more adventurous shots of the night, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had 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 great fettle with Nikorima initially offloading to Hooley, who magnificently offered a dummy before going in at the corner, before the previous Salford guy battered his method over for a 2nd.


Five first-half shots help St Helens past Toulouse


'Jayden was the video game's finest player' - response


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were actually excellent, they showed a desire and we didn't handle their huge bodies (well) sometimes in the first half, they got a roll on and we fought with it.


"Ultimately, when we entered the game we began playing our design - it took us too long to do that but as soon as we grew into the video game and began improving our line speed, I thought that started to turn the video game.


"I thought Jayden was comfortably the finest gamer on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I just desired him to safeguard well and take the line on, however he's a superior player, he's been chomping at the bit to play.


"He was the difference, wasn't he? He just requires to keep improving, keep focusing on his defence first and after that the rest of his video game will come."


Huddersfield manager Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had the bulk of the ball. But it makes it very tough to attack on this field, it's tiny.


"Very seldom will you go round individuals but I felt we must have made a bit more of the field positions, in attack we were a little bit blunt and didn't use enough with the ball.


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


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