Bulls' season at an end

10:20pm Friday 12th September 2008

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Wigan 30, Bulls 14

For the second season running, the Bulls’ Grand Final hopes have been ruined at the first hurdle by Wigan Warriors.

There was none of the drama of last year, when the Bulls famously squandered a 30-6 lead inside 17 minutes to eventually lose 31-30 in heartbreaking fashion.

But this play-off eliminator defeat will hurt just as much as again they failed to deliver on the big occasion.

Inspired by Trent Barrett and Gareth Hock, Wigan eventually had too much class as Bradford’s season came to a premature end.

Andy Lynch was towering in defeat while Joe Vagana had a massive impact early on in what proved to be his final Bulls game but Steve McNamara’s side were not helped when skipper Paul Deacon had to depart at half-time injured.

They did well to stay in the contest, trailing just 18-14 with 13 minutes to go, but then ran out of steam as the mistakes that have plagued their season came back to haunt them.

The game had been switched from JJB Stadium after Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan refused permission to play there the night before his Premier League side took to the field.

Angry Warriors fans vented their anger at Whelan but by the end of the evening they were simply cheering their side across the finish line, having made Widnes’ Stobart Stadium a home from home.

The game started off at ferocious – and fearsome – pace, Vagana dumping Stuart Fielden in the opening seconds with a huge hit.

His former Bulls team-mate coughed up possession when Simon Finnigan finished him off but the visitors could not capitalise on the early opportunity when Chris Nero spilled David Solomona’s pass.

It was their failure to make the most of those half-chances in the opening 40 minutes that cost Bradford dear.

Vagana enjoyed a storming start, as did front-row colleague Lynch as they punched good yards down the middle, leaving Wigan breathless.

But Ben Jeffries dropped one pass then Deacon could not hold on to Solomona’s off-load after the big Samoan had cause havoc in the heart of Wigan’s defence.

Nero also made a half-break which lacked support and the Bulls’ early dominance was restricted to just a single Deacon penalty goal in the fifth minute.

They should have extended that when Nero went over following some great athleticism by Semi Tadulala.

The Fijian winger had leapt high to palm Deacon’s crossfield kick back infield before it sailed out but video referee Phil Bentham – after an eternity – controversially decided it went forward before Nero picked up.

Lynch did get the night’s first try though when he stormed his way over, producing a massive hand-off that floored Wigan forward Harrison Hansen on his way.

It was the least he deserved, having continually blasted his way through the Warriors pack and just the sort of form that saw Lynch run away with the Bulls player of the year awards.

Deacon improved but was later taken out late by Fielden after sending a kick downfield.

No penalty was awarded and the skipper, already a doubt having picked up a knee injury at Castleford on Saturday, hobbled away.

He was troubled by it thereafter and did not return for the second half. By then, Wigan had recovered to go in 12-8 ahead, the introduction of Hock off the bench giving the ‘hosts’ just the lift they needed.

Back from a five-match ban after grabbing referee Ian Smith, the Great Britain second-rower had plenty to prove and set about tearing into Bradford.

Aussie stand-off Barrett became more influential on the back of his surges – as did lively scrum half Thomas Leuluai, who started dancing away as the Bulls struggled to gain field position.

Glenn Morrison, making a surprise comeback after four months out injured, came on and immediately did his best to halt it all, launching himself into a rampaging Iafeta Paleaaesina.

But after Lynch was done for taking out Barrett after a kick, Leuluai darted through some weak tackling to get Wigan on the board.

Pat Richards improved before Barrett quickly forced a drop-out, Nero eventually relieving some intense pressure with a thunderous tackle on Phil Bailey.

Barrett thought he had got over himself after hitting Tim Smith’s inside pass but Michael Platt, back from suspension himself, did his job brilliantly to hold him up, with Nero again doing the business.

That effort was spoiled though when Vagana dropped possession coming out of his own 20, handing Hansen the chance to make up for his earlier gaffe by scoring a try that Richards, with just two minutes remaining, again improved.

Buoyant Wigan got the all-important first score of the second half through Mark Calderwood, who was only playing due to Darrell Goulding being taken ill this morning.

Calderwood, who scored a hat-trick to ruin the Bulls in THAT play-off match 12 months ago, picked up another Barrett kick following a fine break by Leuluai and Bradford were on the ropes.

But McNamara’s men bounced back. Lynch got in again but was denied due to Newton’s forward pass, although there was no stopping Finnigan moments later when he sliced through off the hooker’s short delivery.

Iestyn Harris, in his final Bulls match, added the extras and it was game on trailing 18-14 with 51 minutes on the clock.

Tadulala was put on report for a swinging arm on Cameron Phelps as the intensity raised another notch and then Richards missed a penalty shot as Wigan looked to regain their composure.

Bradford kept pushing but could not get the breakthrough they wanted and it was Wigan who stretched out when Joel Tomkins made the most of some dithering at the back off another Barrett grubber.

Richards’ fourth conversion saw them 24-14 in front and Bradford had to dig deep.

Their efforts became more desperate though and, as they looked to make the most of a rare overlap, Paul Sykes’ pass went forward to James Evans to leave them further frustrated.

The game was held up for a long period after Phelps was carried off, having injured himself trying to stop Tadulala, but it only served to give the visitors more time to realise their season was over.

When it resumed, Bradford were still day-dreaming as Hock shrugged off five would-be tacklers to step over for a deserved try. Richards did the rest and a difficult campaign for Bradford has now come to an end.