Headlines
MATCH REPORT: HULL KR 16-18 BRADFORD BULLS
Friday 29th January 2010
The Robins brought the curtain down on their pre-season campaign by welcoming a near full strength Bradford to Craven Park. Rovers coach Justin Morgan also named a strong squad as both sides prepared for the opening round of the Super League XV season. Injured trio Mick Vella, Peter Fox and Ben Cockayne all returned to action alongside Matt Cook, who made his home debut against the club he spent eight years with.
The Red and Whites were looking to build some momentum before the start of the 2010 campaign proper, and began the contest with a real sense of intent, dominating the opening exchanges before posting the first points of the game, despite losing Ben Galea to a knee ligament strain only two minutes in.
Scott Murrell’s quick thinking and accurate right boot bought the Robins 40 free metres from a 20-metre restart and, although the Bulls’ line survived three repeat sets, a knock-on handed Rovers another chance and they took full advantage.
Paul Cooke’s dummy allowed him to get on the outside of Brett Kearney and leave the Australian on the floor as he dived over. Michael Dobson converted, but the Bulls came straight back and almost cancelled out the score immediately. Quick hands from Steve Menzies and Paul Sykes sent Rikki Sheriffe racing for the corner, only for Dobson to get back and knock the ball out of his hands just inches short of the line.
That was a warning sign for the Robins, but it was one that they didn’t heed. A penalty put the Bulls on the offensive, and after being kept at bay for four plays, Matt Orford’s grubber ricocheted off a stray boot and Michael Worrincy pounced. Paul Sykes converted, and the visitors began to take the initiative, giving the Rovers defence a good workout.
The Red and Whites were working hard to frustrate the Bradford attack, but were not helping themselves with a string of penalties, and eventually they were made to pay.
Back-to-back penalties helped Bradford into a prime attacking position, and more neat handling from Orford and Chris Nero sent Stuart Reardon in, despite the attentions of Shaun Briscoe and Clint Newton. Paul Sykes tagged on the extras, but the Bulls’ luck ran out straight from the restart as prop Craig Kopczak had to be carried off after sustaining a broken leg in the first drive of the set. As the half drew to a close, the worsening conditions forced both sides into a battle for field position, but despite another spell of Bradford pressure, the Robins held out to the break.
Half-Time: Hull KR 6 Bradford Bulls 12
Having started the first half strongly only to tail off, the Robins needed to stick to their guns in the second period, and the early signs were good for the Red and Whites as they quickly levelled the scores – albeit at the third attempt.
Newton’s clever cut-out pass appeared to have given Peter Fox a chance down the touchline, but the winger juggled the ball and the opportunity slipped away. The Robins kept their patience though, and on the next play Dobson’s cross-kick found Liam Colbon, who spun out of a tackle and battled his way over the line. However referee Richard Silverwood ruled that he had been held up, and forced him to play the ball.
The Red and Whites were not going to be denied though, and on the next tackle it was third time lucky. Newton rose highest to palm down Dobson’s chip straight into Chaz I’Anson’s arms, and he had the strength to drive over next to the posts. Dobson added the extras and a couple of minutes later, he almost had another try to convert. Newton slipped an offload away to I’Anson, who brought in Briscoe and Ratu, but the Bulls’ defence got back to pull down the former Leeds man.
That was a narrow escape for the visitors, and they quickly set about making the most of it, virtually setting up camp in the Rovers’ quarter, with several consecutive sets being forced by Orford’s pinpoint kicking game. Despite this, the Red and Whites’ line was holding strong, with Fox and Briscoe combining to bring down Nero just short, and Scott Murrell falling on an Orford grubber which had rebounded off the upright.
However there was no let-up in the Bradford pressure, and eventually the breakthrough came with 15 minutes left on the watch. Following one of four second half drop-outs forced by the visitors, Elliot Whitehead was put through a gap and over by a superbly delayed ball from Orford, and Sykes converted.
The Red and Whites were finding the going difficult after their mammoth defensive efforts, but showed no signs of giving up on the game, and were eventually rewarded.
Mike Ratu beat no less than five defenders as he approached halfway before offloading out of a two-man tackle to fellow new boy Josh Hodgson. He managed to slip a pass away to Dobson, who in turn found an offload to send Matt Cook driving into Bulls territory. From there, Dobson chipped ahead, Kris Welham got a boot on the loose ball and showed great determination to beat two defenders to the touchdown.
That try pulled the Robins to within two points of the visitors, but had left Dobson with an awkward conversion in the blustery, wet conditions. A year before, his last minute drop goal had secured the Red and Whites a well-deserved draw in the first Super League outing of 2009, but this time, his radar was not so accurate and the Bulls held on for the win.
Full-Time: Hull KR 16 Bradford Bulls 18
Hull KR: 1. Shaun Briscoe; 2. Peter Fox, 3. Kris Welham, 15. Mike Ratu, 5. Liam Colbon; 6. Paul Cooke, 7. Michael Dobson; 8. Rhys Lovegrove, 9. Scott Murrell, 10. Scott Wheeldon; 11. Clint Newton, 14. Matt Cook, 13. Ben Galea.
Replacements: 20. Mick Vella, 22. Liam Watts, 21. Josh Hodgson, 28. Ben Cockayne, 19. Chaz I’Anson.
Bradford: 1. Dave Halley; 2. Rikki Sheriffe, 3. Paul Sykes, 4. Chris Nero, 5. Stuart Reardon; 6. Brett Kearney, 22. Matt Orford; 8. Nick Scruton, 9. Heath L’Estrange, 10. Andy Lynch; 12. Glenn Hall, 13. Jamie Langley, 11. Steve Menzies.
Replacements: 14. Wayne Godwin, 16. Mike Worrincy, 17. James Donaldson, 18. Elliot Whitehead, 19. Craig Kopczak, 21. Jason Crookes.
Referee: Mr R. Silverwood
