Warrington Wolves (6) 33 Tries: Myler, Atkins 2, King 2, Monaghan Goals: Bridge 4 Drop Goal: Monaghan Bradford Bulls (8) 8 Tries: Sykes, Lynch
 Wolves winger Ryan Atkins grabbed his first two tries of the season |
Warrington Wolves moved level on points with leaders Wigan again at the top of Super League XV after coming from behind to beat Bradford Bulls. Bradford were 8-6 up at the break after tries from Andy Lynch and Paul Sykes either side of Richie Myler's solo effort for Warrington. But the Wolves responded well, running in five tries after the break. Centre Ryan Atkins and wing Matt King bagged a brace apiece, the other coming from Michael Monaghan. Hooker Monaghan also added a drop goal, while Chris Bridge landed four of his six conversion attempts. Young scrum-half Myler's return to the side after injury meant Monaghan reverting to hooker, while Mickey Higham dropped to the bench. And Bradford had winger Rikki Sheriffe back in after recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss last week's win over Wigan Warriors, while Glenn Hall replaced Jamie Langley in the forwards. It took until the 23rd minute to get the Halliwell Jones scoreboard ticking when Warrington full-back Chris Riley dropped a towering high ball, leading to a sustained period of pressure for the Bulls that ended in Lynch crashing over for a video-referral try. Warrington then hit back when Myler went racing over following a searing midfield break from Mickey Higham.  | We just imploded with the number of errors we kept making. And against a side of Warrington's quality you are not going to get away with it Bulls coach Steve McNamara |
But Bradford reclaimed the lead three minutes before the break when scrum-half Matt Orford created the space to send Sykes over for another unconverted try. Warrington went on the attack immediately after half-time, gaining their reward when King drew two defenders before sending Atkins over in the corner. And the home side gained some breathing space when King went flying over in the same corner after good work by Louis Anderson. It was the first of three match-closing tries in six minutes for the Wolves. Straight from the kick-off, King again caused havoc for the Bulls' defence, delaying his pass just enough to give Atkins time to race to the line. Monaghan then got in on the act when he crossed without a Bulls defender laying a hand on him. Monaghan's drop-goal and another late converted try from King capped a resounding win for the Challenge Cup holders.
Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith said: "It was an ugly first half. We are making a bit of a habit of it but fortunately we are making a habit of getting it in order for the second half. "I think that is the third team we have shut out in the second half, which is encouraging. "From a team point of view it was one good half and one half that we will look at and learn from." Bradford Bulls coach Steve McNamara said: "It was nip and tuck there but unfortunately for us we just imploded with the number of errors we kept making. "I'll accept anyone who makes an error, it's part of the game. "It is the lack of concentration and application which really hurts and there was some of that in the game for us and we won't tolerate it. "Against a side of Warrington's quality you are not going to get away with it."
Warrington: Riley, Hicks, Bridge, Atkins, King, Grix, Myler, Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Replacements: Wood, Higham, Solomona, V Anderson. Bradford: Halley, Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon, Kearney, Orford, Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch, Whitehead, Hall, Menzies. Replacements: Godwin, Kopczak, Worrincy, Donaldson. Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens). Att: 10,434.
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