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 3rd successive home Super League win, emerging triumphant from a legendary 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 however Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima struck back for the Bulls.


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


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who slumped to a 5th succeeding league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants installed an admirable return in a thrilling 2nd half at Odsal.


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


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


Bradford sent out 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 belongings.


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Wynne was later at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, leading to Powell believing quickly to occupy and after that review for the very first shot of the night.


Yet it was some fast thinking from Bradford that assisted them react, 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 hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored one of the more audacious tries of the evening, 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 within 2.


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


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


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were actually good, they revealed a willingness and we didn't deal with their big bodies (well) sometimes in the first half, they got a roll on and we dealt with it.


"Ultimately, when we got into the video game we began playing our design - it took us too long to do that however when we became the game and began enhancing our line speed, I thought that started to turn the video game.


"I thought Jayden was conveniently the finest player on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I just desired him to protect well and take the line on, but he's a first-class player, he's been chomping at the bit to play.


"He was the distinction, wasn't he? He simply needs to keep improving, keep concentrating on his defence initially and then the rest of his video game will come."


Huddersfield employer Luke Robinson informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had most of the ball. But it makes it extremely tough to assault on this field, it's small.


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


"Second half we offered 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 full and it just heaps a lot pressure on us.


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we ought to still have the durability to defend that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the t-shirt. At the minute, things are just slightly 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