BRADFORD BULLS 6 WIGAN WARRIORS 34
KEITH McGHIE, Bartercard Odsal, Saturday

JAKE WARDLE grabbed a brace of tries to help Wigan chalk up an eleventh straight league win and draw level on match points with leaders Leeds.

It was a thorough rather than spectacular success as struggling Bradford, who have now lost nine of their last ten games amid an injury epidemic, tried unsuccessfully to reverse the unwanted recent trend.

The Bulls made five changes to the side walloped by Warrington the previous week with Jayden Okunbor, Waqa Blake, Dan Russell, Joe Keyes and Phoenix Steinwede all welcomed back from injuries.

The Warriors included 20-year-old duo Taylor Kerr and Kian McDermott as direct replacements for the suspended Brad O’Neill and Sam Walters, with both scoring tries and the former especially impressive, while Wardle and Adam Keighran returned in the back line.

Oliver Partington made his 200th career appearance, while Bevan French was clocking up his 150th for Wigan.

Bradford made an enterprising start yet, nevertheless, made the first error to invite the Warriors into the danger zone.
Their top try-scorer Zach Eckersley touched down but the ball had gone forward in the build-up.

Wigan, with the low sun disappearing behind their backs, scored first when Wardle picked up a pass that was partly behind him and caught the Bulls’ defence flat-footed to touch down.

Harry Smith followed his immaculate kicking display (eight out of eight) against Toulouse by landing the first of his five conversions.

Keighran had the strength to add a second try just before the midway point of the half, although Smith missed the subsequent goal attempt.

A delayed Joe Mellor offload almost sent a charging Chris Atkin under the posts before Wigan proved clinical again when French rose to claim a high Smith kick from the grasp of Caleb Aekins and score the 126th try of those 150 games.

Bradford were several times forced to drop out from under their posts while, during a brief spell of pressure at the other end, Ryan Sutton turned out of a tackle but his attempt to ground was deemed short.

Wigan made a dominant opening to the second half and, shortly after having a Patrick Mago try ruled out by the video referee for losing control, Wardle capitalised on a potential overlap to score his second.

McDermott was next to figure on the scoreboard and, although the Bulls refused to let their heads drop, their ideas in attack and chances to respond became fewer as the minutes ticked on.

However, just after the hour, a moment’s loss of concentration in the Warriors’ defence allowed Andy Ackers to spot a slither of daylight and the Bulls hooker dashed through to open their account, with Luke Hooley goaling.

Kerr, who had an industrious 80-minute spell at hooker, backed himself to dive over a crowd of would-be defenders to claim the visitors’ sixth try.

Joe Keyes showed no shortage of spirit with a chase and desperate ankle tap on a free-running and try-bound McDermott in the closing minutes as the Warriors ultimately proved good value for their 18th win of the campaign.

GAMESTAR: Taylor Kerr made an always industrious 80-minute contribution in both attack and defence.

GAMEBREAKER: There was only one likely winner once Jake Wardle’s second try was added early in the second half.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Joe Keyes’ never-say-die ankle tap to stop Kian McDermott’s late try-bound charge demonstrated Bulls’ commitment.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Taylor Kerr (Wigan)
2 pts Harry Smith (Wigan)
1 pt Adam Keighran (Wigan)

MATCHFACTS

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Jayden Okunbor
4 Waqa Blake
11 Dan Russell
5 Ethan Ryan
18 Joe Keyes
32 Chris Atkin
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
10 Loghan Lewis
34 Phoenix Steinwede
12 Zac Fulton
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
19 Will Gardiner
22 Luke Hooley
25 Eliot Peposhi
28 Jamie Gill
18th man (not used)
38 Riley Dean
Also in 20-man squad
16 Ebon Scurr
23 Connor Wynne

Tries: Ackers (62)
Goals: Hooley 1/1

WARRIORS
1 Jai Field
2 Zach Eckersley
3 Adam Keighran
4 Jake Wardle
5 Liam Marshall
6 Bevan French
7 Harry Smith
8 Ethan Havard
25 Taylor Kerr
10 Luke Thompson
23 Kian McDermott
17 Oliver Partington
13 Kaide Ellis
Subs (all used)
15 Patrick Mago
20 Sam Eseh
37 Josh Cartwright
41 Shea O’Connor
18th man (not used)
33 George O’Loughlin
Also in 21-man squad
38 Austin Daniel
40 Lewis Daniels
43 Evan Buckley

Tries: Wardle (13, 48), Keighran (18), French (33), McDermott (55), Kerr (79)
Goals: Smith 5/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16; 0-22, 0-28, 6-28, 6-34

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Man of the Match
Bulls: Dan Russell; Warriors: Taylor Kerr

Penalty count: 7-5
Half-time: 0-16
Referee: Marcus Griffiths
Attendance: 7,561