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 successive home Super League win, emerging victorious from an impressive encounter versus winless Huddersfield Giants.


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


Tristan Powell struck for Huddersfield after the break but Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima struck back for the Bulls.


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game but Bradford pulled off the win courtesy of Hooley's late shot and Nikorima's second.


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who plunged to a 5th successive league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants mounted an admirable comeback in a thrilling second half at Odsal.


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


The 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 Connor Wynne through for what they believed was the game's opening shot but, after a lengthy evaluation by video referee James Vella, his score was chalked off when it was judged Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he became active when in possession.


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Wynne was later on at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, leading to Powell believing rapidly to take ownership and then review for the very first try of the night.


Yet it was some quick 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 hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored among the more adventurous tries of the night, as Gagai snuck up on 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 beautifully offered a dummy before entering at the corner, before the previous Salford guy battered his way over for a second.


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'Jayden was the game's finest gamer' - reaction


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were really excellent, they showed a willingness and we didn't handle their huge bodies (well) at times in the very first half, they got a roll on and we struggled with it.


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


"I believed Jayden was conveniently the finest gamer on the field. I didn't expect 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 distinction, wasn't he? He just requires to keep enhancing, keep focusing on his defence initially and then the rest of his game will come."


Huddersfield manager Luke Robinson informed BBC Radio Leeds:


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


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


"Second half we offered a seven-tackle set away, they scored, we returned into it, we offered a seven-tackle set away again, they scored, we kicked one out on the complete 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 shirt. At the moment, things are simply 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