BRADFORD BULLS 13-13 HULL KR

Sun 15th Feb 2009

13 was the lucky number for the Robins, after a last second Michael Dobson drop-goal earned the Red and Whites a draw at Odsal, after a mammoth defensive effort had held off extensive periods of Bulls dominance.

After a mixed display in their final pre-season friendly against Salford the previous week, the Robins got their Super League XIV campaign underway with a visit to Odsal. Coach Justin Morgan was without Daniel Fitzhenry and Scott Wheeldon through groin and hand problems respectively. However, stand-off Paul Cooke was cleared to play after overcoming a wrist injury, while youngster Kris Welham, who impressed in the pre-season, was preferred to Jake Webster in the centres.

At a cold Odsal, the Robins had the home fans silenced after only three minutes. A Paul Deacon grubber to the in-goal area was just too strong, but as the Bradford defence was re-organising itself, Scott Murrell’s intelligent quick tap put Chev Walker away, and his short ball sent Peter Fox flying away, through a Michael Platt tackle and under the posts. Michael Dobson converted, and five minutes later, he added a 30-metre penalty awarded against Sam Burgess for interference.

However the Red and Whites committed the cardinal sin of failing to complete their next set, but despite having to defend several repeat sets on their own line, they kept their lead intact – although not before Paul Cooke had been put on report for a late challenge on Ben Jeffries, and losing Mick Vella to a knee problem.

The Robins were finding field position and possession difficult to come by, as their own mistakes allowed the Bulls to control affairs, and but for a string of basic errors form the home side, Rovers could have been made to pay.

But then, despite being made to scramble on their own line for set after set, the Robins almost broke away and scored. A good ball from Michael Dobson sent Clint Newton bursting up the middle, only for his pass to the supporting Shaun Briscoe to be knocked away by a back-tracking Bradford defender. Instead, the Bulls finally took their opportunity, and Semi Tadulala was put in at the corner, with Paul Deacon converting from the touchline.

In previous years, the first Bradford try had signalled the opening of the floodgates, but this time, the Robins hit back straight away. Scruton knocked-on on the first tackle, and the Red and Whites wasted no time in taking full advantage, as Ben Galea’s looped pass sent Fox in at the corner for his second try. Dobson’s touchline conversion drifted wide, but the Robins’ breakaway was just that, as the Bulls returned to dominating the possession and hammering away at the Rovers line.

With time ticking down, it appeared that the Robins would be able to hold out, as Steve Menzies’ break put Paul Sykes away down the touchline. His try-scoring pass to Rikki Sheriffe was superbly knocked back towards his own line and recovered by Ben Galea, only for the second-rower to have adjudged to have knocked-on by the touch judge, presenting the Bulls with the ball again.

The Robins were defending valiantly on their own line, but the bounce of the ball continued to go Bradford’s way, presenting them with repeat set after repeat set, and finally it was too much for the Red and Whites – Chris Nero sneaking over wide out. However there was an element of justice, as Deacon’s conversion drifted wide to leave the Robins with a slender lead at the break.

Half-Time: Bradford Bulls 10 Hull KR 12


Coming out for the second half, the Robins knew they couldn’t afford to give the Bulls the same amount of ball and field position as they had in the first period if they were to come away with anything from their visit to Odsal. The Red and Whites did start well, having survived an early scare on their own line, they came back, pressing on the Bradford line and looking dangerous, until Michael Dobson’s hands let him down and the chance went.

As the game swung to and fro, the Robins had a narrow escape as Sam Burgess had a try ruled out for obstruction, and mid-way through the half, Liam Colbon also had claims for a try waved away. A Dobson cross-kick appeared to be knocked backwards by Kris Welham, with Colbon scooping up the ball to touch down, only to be denied by referee Ben Thaler.

As both sides went in search of the win, the hits were getting bigger by the minute, with the Bulls beginning to look very dangerous, and with ten minutes left, the home side drew level. Paul Cooke made a try-saving tackle on his opposite number Ben Jeffries, but on the next play the Robins were caught offside, and Deacon kicked the goal.

With the scores tied, the Robins had the first chance to take a step towards securing a first win, forcing repeat sets on the Bulls line, with a despairing Steve Menzies’ tackle denying Ben Galea an almost certain try, and Scott Murrell’s attempted one-pointer being charged down.

The Bulls came back, and with only a minute left on the clock, Paul Deacon slotted over a drop-goal to send the home fans into raptures – although it appeared that Ben Cockayne was obstructed as he tried to close Deacon down.

That appeared to be the game sealed in the Bulls favour, but although it appeared that the Robins had very little left in their tank, their never-say-die attitude shone through as they went the length of the field in their final set to set up one last scoring chance. Michael Dobson was under intense pressure, but from 30-metres, the scrum-half just managed to get his kick away, and although it wasn’t the prettiest, it just scraped over the bar as the hooter sounded.

It was far from a perfect performance by the Robins, with too many mistakes and penalties conceded, but the spirit which frustrated the Bradford attack meant that the Red and Whites returned to East Hull with a well-deserved point – although they could well look on it as being a win which escaped them, having created several golden opportunities to take two points, rather than just one. Coach Justin Morgan certainly did.

“The players are genuinely disappointed they didn't win,” Morgan said.

“I walked into the changing room and players were kicking bottles and shaking their heads, but as a coach that was nice to see.

“Both teams put in a massive effort and both teams deserved something out of the game, but I thought we did enough to win it.”

Full-Time: Bradford Bulls 13 Hull KR 13


Hull KR: 1. Shaun Briscoe; 2. Peter Fox, 3. Chev Walker, 19. Kris Welham, 5. Liam Colbon; 6. Paul Cooke, 7. Michael Dobson; 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Ben Fisher, 20. Mick Vella; 11. Clint Newton, 12. Ben Galea, 13. Scott Murrell.

Replacements: 14. Stanley Gene, 28. Ben Cockayne, 10. David Mills, 17. Makali Aizue.

Bradford: 1. Michael Platt; 2. Rikki Sheriffe, 3. Paul Sykes, 4. Chris Nero, 5. Semi Tadulala; 6. Ben Jeffries, 7. Paul Deacon; 8. Sam Burgess, 9. Terry Newton, 17. Nick Scruton; 11. Steve Menzies, 12. Glenn Morrison, 13. Jamie Langley.

Replacements: 15. Matt Cook, 14. Wayne Godwin, 26. David Solomona, 19. Craig Kopczak.


Referee: Mr B. Thaler Attendance: 12,141