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 successive home Super League win, emerging triumphant from an epic 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 however Bradford pulled off the win courtesy of Hooley's late try and Nikorima's 2nd.


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


Russell's early goal 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 appropriately 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 prolonged review 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 ended up being active when in possession.


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Wynne was later at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, causing Powell believing rapidly to occupy and after that go over 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 60 seconds and then Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his launching to extend the hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored among the more adventurous shots 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.


off the win in great fettle with Nikorima initially unloading to Hooley, who magnificently offered a dummy before entering at the corner, before the former Salford man battered his way over for a second.


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


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


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


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


"I believed Jayden was conveniently the very best player on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I just wanted him to defend well and take the line on, but he's a first-class gamer, he's been chomping at the bit to play.


"He was the difference, wasn't he? He simply requires to keep improving, keep concentrating 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 the majority of the ball. But it makes it really challenging to attack on this field, it's tiny.


"Very rarely will you go round individuals however I felt we must 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 returned into it, we offered a seven-tackle set away once again, they scored, we kicked one out on the full and it simply loads so much pressure on us.


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we must 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