Weekly Bulls Eye

8 th August 2002 IN BULLS EYE THIS WEEK, COACH BRIAN NOBLE AND LEON PRYCE LOOK AHEAD TO FRIDAY?S SUPER LEAGUE VII ROUND 22 CLASH AT THE SHAY WHEN THE BULLS AND THE BLUE SOX LOCK HORNS IN ANOTHER BIG WEST YORKSHIRE DERBY.

BRIAN NOBLE IT IS ANOTHER BIG YORKSHIRE DERBY.

It is always a great occasion at the Shay and for Halifax it is their biggest game of the season. Believe me there is no other game they would rather win than this one and it has always been the same. When I played and since I have become a Coach I have found there are no easy games there and this one will be just as tough. We know we are in for a rough ride and we will come out with bumps and bruises. It is a case of being disciplined, doing the job and getting out of there with the two points.

THEY HAVE STRUGGLED THIS SEASON. ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THEIR POSITION IN THE TABLE?

Steve Linnane has brought in some good players, with plenty of pace out wide, like Beckett and Halpenny but I feel they have missed Cardiss in the backs.

They have a big strong pack that likes to get the better of you and a good pair of halfbacks controlling things behind them. Clinch and Dunneman are quality and a good combination and if Dunneman is out, as has been suggested, then it is a boost for us.

I am surprised they only have 12 points but if you look at the games they have played you will find they have been involved in some very close encounters on several occasions.

They have been playing well, and they always play well at the Shay so we need to be on top of our game.

Let?s get one thing straight; in Bradford and Halifax games the league position counts for nothing and this will be as difficult a game for us as we are likely to encounter for the rest of the season. Some of their fans, and ours, would be happy if this was the only game their side won all season, so we are expecting a tough game.

We have trained very well and the players are well up for the game. There is a spark in the camp as we get to the business end of the season and that is very pleasing.

LEON PRYCE

AS A BRADFORD LAD, DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO PLAYING AGAINST HALIFAX?

I do. They are always good games, big derby clashes and their fans are always pumped up for this one. The players seem to be fired up too so I think it will be a close game.

They have some good players in their side and some of the people I played amateur with are coming through and that is good to see. It?s always good for players like Stuart Fielden who is playing against his home town club and always likes to do well against them.

We are starting to hit form now and in the next few weeks I think we will just keep getting better as we head towards the play off.

TEAM NEWS

With Richard Moore still troubled by his toe injury and long term injury victims, Brandon Costin and Paul Anderson still out, the Bulls will field the same 17 that accounted for Leeds last week. Paul Anderson has been given clearance to resume full training and is looking at returning to action in around 2 weeks.

MILESTONES

James Lowes will make his 200th appearance for the Bulls.

He has scored 88 Tries, kicked 4 goals and 2 Drop goals for a total of 362 points since joining the club from Leeds Rhinos at the start of the 1996 Super League season.

Lowes also needs 8 points for a career total of 600.

Jamie Peacock needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 24 tries.

Scott Naylor needs 1 try, and Nathan McAvoy 2 tries for a total of 50 for the Bulls.

Nathan McAvoy needs two tries for a career total of 500 points.

Robbie Paul needs 6 points for 500 for the Bulls. He has scored 123 tries and kicked 1 goal in 218 appearances for the club.

Paul Deacon has kicked 116 goals from 140 attempts this season giving him an average success rate of 82.85% for the Bulls. He has also kicked 6 goals from 6 attempts for Lancashire giving him an overall percentage of 83.56%.

BULLS EYE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT OF BRADFORD BULLS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB.