ESL Round 14 Reports - Sunday Games

Warrington shock the Bulls, Hull work hard for win, and London back to winning ways.

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Warrington shock the Bulls

Chris Bridge returned to haunt his former club Bradford with a 24-point personal haul as Warrington registered their first win at Odsal since 1993 and their first league double against Bradford in 25 years by 44 points to 24.

Bridge, a ?24,000 close-season signing from the Bulls, was the star as Warrington recovered from a 24-8 deficit by running in 36 points without reply in a stunning second-half performance.

Bradford dominated in the early stages and it was no surprise when winger Lesley Vainikolo crashed over for a sixth-minute try.

Paul Deacon, whose probing runs in his new role as hooker caused the Warrington defence more problems, added the goal and as Bradford pressed again winger Karl Pryce was halted inches short.

Warrington gradually began to make an impression and it was Bridge, one of three former Bradford players in the side, who drew them level.

He ran in unopposed from 25 metres to round off an attack launched by Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson and then added the goal.

Bradford stand-off Iestyn Harris, who began his career with Warrington, was working hard to inspire the Bulls and they grabbed the lead again with a fine solo effort by skipper Jamie Peacock who took three defenders over the line with him from close range.

Deacon added the goal but Bridge narrowed their lead right on the interval with a penalty goal. Bradford soon added to their lead after the break with two tries in six minutes.

Stuart Reardon crossed after a final pass from Iestyn Harris and Deacon duly goaled. Harris then side-stepped his way through for a great solo try and Deacon was on target again to open up a 24-8 lead which promised to be decisive.

Warrington however, and particularly Bridge, had other ideas.

Bridge combined with Gleeson to create for loose forward Paul Noone and then Toa Kohe-Love, another former Bradford player, scored in oceans of space and before Bradford had chance to recover substitute forward Paul Wood was over the line and Bridge converted all three tries to put Warrington 26-24 ahead after 57 minutes.

Bradford looked completely shell-shocked and Warrington stretched their advantage after 66 minutes when prop Danny Lima crashed over following a long run by winger Dean Gaskell.

Bradford simply had no answer to Warrington?s enthusiasm and Bridge rounded off his great personal day with a fine solo try and another goal after 73 minutes and in the last minute winger Henry Fa?afili scored after intercepting a pass from Iestyn Harris.

It was a chastening debut for Bradford?s new Australian centre, 21-year-old Ben Harris, who entered the fray just after Warrington had gone ahead and hardly had any chance to make an impression.

Bradford: Withers, Pratt, Reardon, K. Pryce, Vainikolo, I. Harris, Paul, Vagana, Deacon, Fielden, Peacock, Parker, Radford. Replacements: L. Pryce, B. Harris, Langley, Lynch.

Warrington: Grose, Faa?fili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Gaskell, Bridge, N. Wood, Leikvoll, Clarke, Hilton, Swann, Wainwright, Westwood. Replacements: Noone, Mark Gleeson, P. Wood, Lima.

Bradford (12) 24. Tries: Vainikolo, Peacock, Reardon, I. Harris. Goals: Deacon 4.

Warrington (8) 44. Tries: Bridge 2, Noone, Kohe-Love, P. Wood, Lima, Faa?fili. Goals: Bridge 8.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens) Att: 14,428

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Hull work hard for win

Hull were made to work harder than expected for their 35-28 win over Wakefield at the Atlantic Solutions Stadium this afternoon.

But the visitors? six-try victory secured their place in the top three of the engage Super League table and left their hosts looking anxiously over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

John Kear?s men were indebted to the contributions of full-back Shaun Briscoe and hooker Danny Brough who were never far from the action as Hull survived a second-half onslaught from the Wildcats.

The Black and Whites had led 12-0 and 24-12 due to tries from Briscoe, Brough, Paul King and Richard Horne but Wakefield posted 16 points without reply when Brough was in the sin bin to lead 28-24 midway through the second half.

The Wildcats? scorers were Jamie Rooney, Sid Domic, Darrell Griffin and David March with Rooney kicking four from five goals.

But late scores from Shayne McMenemy and Briscoe with his second, coupled with Brough?s drop goal secured the points.

Wakefield coach Shane McNally welcomed Julian O?Neill back into his side but was missing David Wrench to a broken nose.

Hull brought Chris Chester back from injury to take his place on the bench whilst Nathan Blacklock started on the wing despite a midweek trip to Australia.

After a fine win over St Helens last week Hull slipped back into gear straight away opening the scoring as early as the third minute when stand-in hooker King swooped to crash over from a yard after Michael Korkidas had conceded a needless penalty to place Wakefield on the back foot.

Then just five minutes later Briscoe increased the lead scoring in his fourth successive League game.

The home defence retreated as McMenemy ran at them with purpose and he was able to offload to the on-rushing Briscoe who eased over the line. Paul Cooke converted both tries for a 12-0 lead.

Hull?s defence and discipline was imperious in the opening quarter but two penalties handed Wakefield a way back into the match.

First O?Neill was allowed time to kick close to the line for Jason Demetriou to ground and then despite Hull?s protests that Griffin had been held up over the line referee Ronnie Laughton awarded the prop forward the try. Rooney converted both from close to the touchline to level the scores.

Hull regained control, due in no small part to the introduction of Garreth Carvell from the bench.

Domic handed Hull possession with a knock-on close to his own line, and after they had probed the line, Brough fed Carvell who - despite heavy traffic - was able to offload to the supporting Brough who crossed for his first Hull try.

Cooke goaled and did so again just three minutes later. Carvell made 40 metres with a rampaging run and after breaking the line fed Horne, who cruised over under the posts.

Despite late first half pressure from the hosts after Brough?s sin-binning Hull held on to take a 12-point lead into the interval.

Wakefield make the most of their numerical advantage after the break with a devastating burst of three tries in six minutes.

The first came when March was allowed to cross after weak Hull defence and then with Horne laid flat out in back play, Steve Snitch sent Domic racing to the corner to level the try count.

Rooney?s conversions to both levelled the scoreboard at 24 apiece. The balance then switched completely in favour of the home side with a marvellous try in the 48th minute.

The ball changed hands between Domic, Semi Tadulala, Sam Obst and Rooney, to send the latter diving over in the corner. Despite Rooney?s failed conversion Hull had conceded 16 points in Brough?s absence.

The visitors threatened a response when Blacklock was stopped inches from the line and regained the advantage just after the hour mark.

Stephen Kearney powered his way to the line and his offload allowed Horne to send McMenemy crashing over. Cooke?s fifth goal of the afternoon handed Hull a slender two-point lead.

Briscoe was then involved in two crucial plays which effectively sealed the game. First he was able to cross for his second try after superb work from Cooke and Chester and then as Wakefield pressed he produced a vital intercept when Domic seemed set to set Rooney free for an equalising score.

In keeping with the game Brough had a say in the deciding play of the match when his 72nd-minute drop goal flew over at a ferocious pace.

Wakefield: M. Field, Halpenny, Demetriou, Domic, Tadulala,Rooney, Jeffries, Feather, March, Korkidas, Elima, Spicer, O?Neill. Replacements: Griffin, J. Field, Snitch, Obst.

Hull: Briscoe, Blacklock, Saxton, Yeaman, Raynor, Cooke,R. Horne, Dowes, King, Thackray, Kearney, McMenemy, Whiting. Replacements: Carvell, Chester, McNicholas, Brough.

Wakefield (12) 28. Tries: Demetriou, Griffin, March, Domic, Rooney. Goals: Rooney 4.

Hull (24) 35. Tries: King, Briscoe 2, Brough, R. Horne, McMenemy. Goals: Cooke 5. Drop Goals: Brough.

Referee: R. Laughton (RFU) Att: 5,194

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London back to winning ways

London Broncos ended their seven-match losing streak after withstanding a second half City Reds onslaught at Griffin Park to take a 34-18 win.

The Broncos had been in freefall since winning of their opening six games of their engage Super League season.

But they have shown an improvement since dumping the City Reds out of the Challenge Cup two weeks ago and they were good value for the win.

The City Reds hit the ground running putting the Broncos under pressure and it paid off after only three minutes when Luke Robinson?s inside pass brought a try for Sean Rutgerson.

The visitors failed to make the most of their good start, however, and the Broncos were level within 10 minutes through Luke Dorn.

Prop Mark Tookey punched a large hole in Salford?s defence before the Broncos switched play and Dorn made no mistake from close range.

The Broncos turned the screw and went in front after 23 minutes. Dorn?s high kick was batted into the arms of Rob Purdham, who grounded.

The home side were flying and did not have to wait long for their third try. Steve Trindall?s pass was helped on by Paul Sykes to Tyrone Smith who squeezed into the corner.

Salford needed a response and they got it after 37 minutes. John Clough worked an opening with some industrious thinking before Andy Coley sent Nathan McAvoy into the corner.

The Broncos stepped back up a gear and went into half-time 10 points ahead when SolomLondon Broncos ended their seven-match losing streak after withstanding a second half City Reds onslaught at Griffin Park.