Bradford Bulls v Wigan Warriors - Tetley's Super League VI Round 6
Easter Monday 16th April 2001. Kick Off 12:05pm at Valley Parade

Match Report by Andy Ellis (wiganwarriors.rivals.net)

Wigan staged a second half fightback in their game against the Bradford Bulls, but despite scoring 24 second half points lost 35-24.
The home team got off to a quick start with three tries and Wigan had to play catch-up rugby throughout but they never lost their belief and in the end pushed the Bulls hard.

Another key to victory was the immaculate kicking game of Henry Paul who did not squander any of his seven attempts, but in Adrian Lam Wigan too had somebody playing at the top of his game.
The Bulls got off to a flying start then thanks to the former Wigan half back Paul.

Paul joined the Bulls line, and dummied his way through two defenders before being held-up by David Hodgson over the line-however the ball was then knocked backwards and Tevita Vaikona had the simple task of picking up the ball and crossing.
The Warriors tried hard to redress the balance in the early stages, but spurned a couple of kickable penalties, going for a try and although Wigan did eventually cross through Kris Radlinski, the pass to him from Andy Farrell was adjudged to have been forward.

Wigan may have squandered their efforts but the Bulls made the best of every chance they got in the first period grabbing two more tries to lead by 20-0 with just 30 minutes played.
Jamie Peacock was the architect of the second making a good break before passing to Leon Pryce on the left wing, who had enough speed to take him away from Radlinski.

The screw was turned even further minutes later when Shane Rigon battled his way over the line with the visitors guilty of missing tackles.
Wigan fought back after the break with two tries and indeed could have been within two points of the home team had Mick Cassidy not passed forward with the line at his mercy.

However, Terry Newton made no mistake wriggling over after good work on the Wigan left from Brett Dallas and Radlinski.

The Warriors got closer to the Bulls when Adrian Lam put Matthew Johns in after sucking in the cover with a clever run that committed Henry Paul.

The Bulls seemed to be rocking, but only momentarily as they won the ball back from the resulting kick-off before Henry Paul's slide rule pass put Daniel Gartner in the clear over the line to keep the home team fourteen points ahead.
Robbie Paul scored the try of the game as the next episode of the saga unfolded with a great piece of individual brilliance checking, dummying and then bursting through the Wigan cover before eventually taking David Hodgson and the ball over the line.

The Warriors weren't prepared to throw the towel in through and kept their slim hopes of victory alive with two tries the first of which was scored by Wes Davies after a good sharp pass from Lam.

Indeed Man of the Match Lam was not quite finished as a sublime dummy caught the Bulls napping to let the scrum half in unopposed.
Wigan put pressure on the Bulls line towards the end of the game and looked like they just might be able to turn the tide, but time ran out for the valiant Wigan side who had played a great part in this scintillating Super League show.

Team Sheets

Score Sheet

Other Information

Attendance: 16,247