Re: Team for Bradford : Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:41 am  

Credit where its due.

Re: Team for Bradford : Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:18 am  

Luke Gale showing us what we're not missing....

Re: Team for Bradford : Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:59 am  

In the bits of Radio Leeds commentary that I heard yesterday, the commentator (when he wasn't moaning about every forward pass / knock-on / offside decision that went against Bradford) kept referring to Kieran Dixon as a difficult man to stop.

OptaJonny on twitter agrees. Great performance from Kieran.

OptaJonny ‏@OptaJonny 15m

14 - @LondonBroncosRL' @Kieran_22's 14 tackle busts vs Bradford was the most in a @SuperLeague game by a single player this season. Gem.

Re: Team for Bradford : Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:26 am  

We played with an unusual inventiveness and were keen to chuck the ball around in all parts of the pitch. Unfortunately I don't we are good enough to get away with it - or at least not that well practised in this art. Still it worked a few times as the score showed.. Unfortunately heavy traffic on the M62 meant we missed the first 20+ minutes of the game (heard some commentary on radio Leeds) and outside the ground is almost silent - very weird. Met up with a old supporter - some may remember him from ages ago - Exile - who still lives in Leeds and follows the boys. We did seem to be able to get to the Bulls line but were a bit lost for ideas in the last 10 metres (heard that before?). Kafusi then drew in 5 defenders on a short run near the line which led to Howell having loads of space to go over the line untouched. 4-0 It was blowing a fair wind, even at pitch level and kicking wasn't that easy (it was pretty warm when we left London but I decided to go for long trousers and a fleece - really glad I did as it was pretty chilly t'up north. Caton-Brown nearly made the try line in a break just before the whistle but wasn't quite quick enough after a lovely pass from Soward. It was actually warmer at home in SE London at 11pm than 2 pm in Bradford). 2nd half was more of the same with London (and Bradford) making mistakes but with us looking more likely to break through. As usual Sammut was tricky and it was his run that eventually lead to the try - and a couple of penalties. Bradford mistakes let us get easily to the far end of the ground and in the distance we saw the tries.... The Caton-Brown try was on a free play which went on for ages - again made by passing the ball out of hand. As you can imagine the Soward interception (shades of Denis Moran) raised a cheer and started the Bull fans exodus. After the final whistle is was really good to see most of the players coming to our end, not just to applaud but to climb the inner fence to shake hands and talk to the fans who made the trip up there. They certainly looked 'over the moon' with the win. What to read into this, well they certainly played with more passion than of late, was this due to the British kids out there or did they know anything we don't? Rae did say we would know in the next 2 weeks (after the last home game) so this week is key. The youngsters have options but players like Cook have a family to feed and the uncertainty can't be helping, especially when many SL clubs have already made offers to players for next year, apart from Trinity I guess

Not sure if its a omen but...last time I was at Odsal was for the very last (at the time) London Broncos match , in the play offs!! Hope the same is not true of our visit this year.

Radio Leeds also read out a tweet Emma sent them and they wished us a safe journey back down the A1 (into the warmth of inner London)

Re: Team for Bradford : Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:58 am  

From the kick off when Jamie Soward's kick-off was caught near the touchline and we piled into them and knocked them into touch we looked up for this one. We had all the ball in the first five minutes forcing two goal line dropouts and got at least two more in the rest of the game.

Bradford didn't look like scoring throughout the first half. We threw the ball into touch on about four occasions in the first half on the same side, when a well placed pass or Colbon better placed on the touchline would have seen a walk in whilst Howell could have fallen over the line but knocked on. We could have easily been twenty points up at half time. It would not have flattered us.

When Lulia crossed after 48 minutes on the third consecutive set after two penalties and they took the lead it felt like a real injustice. After five months without a league win it felt ominous.

But the Magic Hat was everywhere, forcing goal line drop outs, chipping the ball over for Howell to score and also ran in from half way, so he transformed our fortunes. When Dixon played in Caton Brown we looked clear winners. And our defense which has been much improved since the Wigan debacle looked much better.

It was a bit more nervy in the last ten minutes with the Magic Hat in the sin bin and only a ten point lead but we played really very well to take the two points.

There were tears of joy from myself at the end, for I felt like I had seen the last win already and maybe the last win ever. Absolutely delighted. The players came over at the end and a few us even vaulted over the last fence to shake hands with them. Since round 5 when Kieran came over at the end it has become a bit of a ritual with the guys coming over every time, so fair play to them, it cannot always be easy to do this.

With my tip on the Huddersfield Giants to win the league at 6/1 coming in and having opposed Bradford on the betting exchanges again at 6/1 this was a great day indeed.

Hull KR losing at Widnes now means they are all but mathematically certain to finish eighth and I think they are likely to draw Hull FC away in the play-offs, so I would be shocked if they don't rest players next week, increasing our ever fattening prospects of avoiding bottom.

It was really good to see a bigger away crew, and let us hope everyone will try and make it for the last game.

Cheers
Rammo