Bradford outmuscle Huddersfield in epic at Odsal

Betfred Super League

Bradford (4) 26

Tries: Ruan, Nikorima 2, Hooley Goals: Hooley 3, Atkin 2

Huddersfield (2) 14

Tries: Powell, Gagai Goals: Russell 3

Bradford Bulls earned a third successive home Super League win, emerging victorious from an epic encounter against winless Huddersfield Giants.

In a cagey first half, Olly Russell and Luke Hooley exchanged kicks, with the latter successful to give Bradford a narrow half-time lead.

Tristan Powell struck for Huddersfield after the break but Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima hit back for the Bulls.

Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game but Bradford pulled off the win courtesy of Hooley's late try and Nikorima's second.

It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who slumped to a fifth successive league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants mounted an admirable comeback in a thrilling second half at Odsal.

Russell's early goal had nudged them ahead and, in an attritional first half, his kick was matched by Hooley later on.

The game sprung into life as half-time approached, with Zac Woolford penalised for a high arm on Hooley, who duly sent over another two points right in front of the posts.

Bradford sent Connor Wynne through for what they thought was the game's opening try but, after a lengthy review by video referee James Vella, his score was chalked off when it was judged Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he became active when in possession.

Wynne was later at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, leading to Powell thinking quickly to take possession and then go over for the first try of the night.

Yet it was some quick thinking from Bradford that helped them respond, as they worked the ball from their own goalline into Ruan's try within 60 seconds and then Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his debut to extend the hosts' lead.

Huddersfield then scored one of the more audacious tries of the evening, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had been expecting it to bounce dead - and dotted down with inches to spare to put the visitors within two.

Bradford polished off the win in fine fettle with Nikorima first offloading to Hooley, who beautifully sold a dummy before going in at the corner, before the former Salford man battered his way over for a second.

Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:

"Huddersfield were really good, they showed a willingness and we didn't deal with their big bodies (well) at times in the first half, they got a roll on and we struggled with it.

"Ultimately, when we got into the game we started playing our style - it took us too long to do that but once we grew into the game and started improving our line speed, I thought that started to turn the game.

"I thought Jayden was comfortably the best player on the field. I didn't expect much magic from him, I just wanted him to defend well and take the line on, but he's a first-class player, he's been chomping at the bit to play.

"He was the difference, wasn't he? He just needs to keep improving, keep focusing on his defence first and then the rest of his game will come."

Huddersfield boss Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:

"First half we were dominant, we had the majority of the ball. But it makes it very difficult to attack on this field, it's tiny.

"Very rarely will you go round people but I felt we should have made a little bit more of the field positions, in attack we were a little bit blunt and didn't offer enough with the ball.

"Second half we gave a seven-tackle set away, they scored, we got back into it, we gave a seven-tackle set away again, they scored, we kicked one out on the full and it just heaps so much pressure on us.

"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we should still have the resilience to defend that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the shirt. At the moment, things are just slightly off."

Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Armitage, Ryan; Nikorima, Hooley; Sutton, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Chamberlain, Ruan, Mellor.

Interchanges: Atkin, Lolesio, Hallas, Souter.

Huddersfield: King; Woolford, Burgess, O'Donnell, Patolo; Powell, Russell; Lolohea, Gagai, Milne, McCormack, Lumb, Zenon.

Interchanges: Rogers, Rush, Cozza, Cassell.

Referee: Aaron Moore.