Academy win in comeback : Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:38 am  

http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4338/ACADEMY%20WIN%20AT%20ORRELL ACADEMY WIN AT ORRELL Late tries to Liam Kay, Ben Hellewell and Rob Hawthorne, all goaled by Danny Addy, helped the Bulls Academy to a 30 points to 26 win over Wigan at Orrell. The Bulls staged all the early pressure without success and a series of penalties gave Wigan plenty of field posiriton, which they didn't waste with two early tries and a penalty to give them a 14--0 lead. Winger Kyle Williamson got the Bulls on the scoreboard with an interception try but immediately they lost control of the kick off and Logan Tomkins crossed under the posts. On the stroke of half time the Bulls were awarded a straight penalty, which Loose Forward Addy converted to make it 20-6 at the break to the home side. Basil Richard's half time team talk centred around discipline and ruck control and immediately they hit back when Tom Olbison broke through thirty five metres out and held of the cover in a magnificent run to the line. Addy converted but Wigan again hit back almost immediately to make it 26-14 with twenty minutes to go. It was to be the Warriors swansong because the hard work they had put in stopping the Bulls middle unit, in which the Burgess Twins and Tom Lillycrop were outstanding, had taken its toll on the Wigan pack and they began to make errors both in attack and defence. The Bulls were now calling the shots and some superb handling from Kay and Michael Tate got Winger Matt Harding away deep in his own half. He powered up the touchline, knocked off a defender before passing inside to the supporting Tate whose pass to Liam Kay sent the Scrum Half in under the posts. Again the Bulls attacked down the Wigan right side and Ben Hellewell held off two defenders to get the ball down and, after more rampaging runs from the Burgess Twins, centre Robert Hawthorne crossed to give the Buls the lead for the first time with only five minutes remaining. Wigan battled valiantly at the end but were stuck in their own half as the Bulls finished the stronger of the two sides. Liam Kay, Liam Mackay, Tom Olbison and Matt Harding worked tirelessley for the Bulls as did Hooker Liam O'Brien, who though still only fifteen, stood up well to the Wigan pack and made great advantage of the space created by his Front Row coalleagues.

http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4338/ACADEMY%20WIN%20AT%20ORRELL ACADEMY WIN AT ORRELL Late tries to Liam Kay, Ben Hellewell and Rob Hawthorne, all goaled by Danny Addy, helped the Bulls Academy to a 30 points to 26 win over Wigan at Orrell. The Bulls staged all the early pressure without success and a series of penalties gave Wigan plenty of field posiriton, which they didn't waste with two early tries and a penalty to give them a 14--0 lead. Winger Kyle Williamson got the Bulls on the scoreboard with an interception try but immediately they lost control of the kick off and Logan Tomkins crossed under the posts. On the stroke of half time the Bulls were awarded a straight penalty, which Loose Forward Addy converted to make it 20-6 at the break to the home side. Basil Richard's half time team talk centred around discipline and ruck control and immediately they hit back when Tom Olbison broke through thirty five metres out and held of the cover in a magnificent run to the line. Addy converted but Wigan again hit back almost immediately to make it 26-14 with twenty minutes to go. It was to be the Warriors swansong because the hard work they had put in stopping the Bulls middle unit, in which the Burgess Twins and Tom Lillycrop were outstanding, had taken its toll on the Wigan pack and they began to make errors both in attack and defence. The Bulls were now calling the shots and some superb handling from Kay and Michael Tate got Winger Matt Harding away deep in his own half. He powered up the touchline, knocked off a defender before passing inside to the supporting Tate whose pass to Liam Kay sent the Scrum Half in under the posts. Again the Bulls attacked down the Wigan right side and Ben Hellewell held off two defenders to get the ball down and, after more rampaging runs from the Burgess Twins, centre Robert Hawthorne crossed to give the Buls the lead for the first time with only five minutes remaining. Wigan battled valiantly at the end but were stuck in their own half as the Bulls finished the stronger of the two sides. Liam Kay, Liam Mackay, Tom Olbison and Matt Harding worked tirelessley for the Bulls as did Hooker Liam O'Brien, who though still only fifteen, stood up well to the Wigan pack and made great advantage of the space created by his Front Row coalleagues.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:12 am  

Good stuff lads!

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:26 am  

I'm loving reading about the Academy championship this year, it seems a very wide open competition with any one of about six teams capable of winning it.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:54 am  

It was a good game.
Wigan should have won it. They had a very strong wind behind them in the second half but inexplicably failed to use it to their advantage.

I was very impressed with the winger Matt Harding, he was powerful and quick.

The third Bradford try was as good any one you will see.
They were trapped 15 metres from their own line on the last tackle by some superb Wigan defence. Instead of kicking on the last they moved the ball quickly along the line to create the overlap, and then superb passing and backing up enabled them to score a fantastic try.

The academy is very tight this year, with Warrigton being IMO the best side I have seen.