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Bradford 36-18 Wakefield

Bottom-club Wakefield gave weakened Super League leaders Bradford a serious fright at Valley Parade.

Scoreboard

Bradford 36
Tries: Vainikolo, Withers, Gartner, Forshaw, Naylor, McAvoy Cons: Withers (5), Paul

Wakefield 18
Tries: Moana (2), Tassell Cons: Davis (3)

It was only in the final 10 minutes that Bradford, missing three players on duty with Great Britain, took control to secure the win.

Bradford took the lead with a penalty after 13 minutes before New Zealand winger Lesley Vainikolo scored a stunning try.

He avoided would-be tacklers on the half-way line before rounding the full-back to score.

It was an heroic effort but the last few minutes just showed how cruel the game can be

Peter Roe
Wakefield coach

Michael Withers added another try to extend the gap to 14-0 before Wakefield hit back with two tries after Bradford hooker James Lowes had limped off.

After taking a 14-12 into the interval Danny Gartner scored within six minutes of the restart but the Wildcats struck back with a second try to Martin Moana.

It needed a Mike Forshaw try to seal the win for the Bulls before late tries by centres Scott Naylor and Nathan McAvoy gave the score a flattering look.

"I was worried until the last 10 minutes," admitted Bradford assistant coach Darrel Shelford.

Bradford: Withers, Vaikona, Naylor, McAvoy, Vainikolo, Pryce, Paul, Vagana, Lowes, McDermott, Gartner, Radford, Forshaw. Replacements: Wilkinson, Langley, Parker, Moore.

Wakefield: Holland, Frew, Tassell, Hassan, N. Law, Moana, Davis, Keating, March, Jackson, Slattery, Ellis, Bird. Replacements: Broadbent, Field, Feather, Rinaldi.

Referee: Robert Connolly (Wigan).


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