Shaun Ainscough denies Viking charge
Shaun Ainscough’s second try of the afternoon secured a 38-26 win for Bradford Bulls over Widnes Vikings at Odsal.
The win will no doubt keep their play off hopes alive as the regular season reaches its final stages.
The Bulls were made to work hard for the two Super League points during their first home match since they were docked six points for entering administration. However it was the Vikings who started the game a lot stronger.
Bradford made the first significant error of the game which gave Widnes good field possession. From the resulting set of six, Cameron Phelps’ cut out pass found Patrick Ah Van in the corner.
Widnes extended their lead through Ben Davies. The try came from Hep Cahill, whose offload found Davies, before the prop forward span and scrambled over the Bulls’ line.
Bradford clicked into gear through Michael Platt’s try quickly after Davies’. The Bulls found a gap on Widnes’ right side to send Platt in.
However Bradford were their own worst enemies at time in the first half. An error from the Bulls after their own scrum head and feed resulted in Danny Craven taking advantage of the Bulls’ mistake and scoring in the corner.
But they were able to respond quickly. Keith Lulia broke the Widnes defensive line, and he found Brett Kearney in support to finish off a simple try for the Bulls.
Bradford took the lead thanks to tries from Ainscough and Ben Jeffries. Kearney’s try was created off a well improvised move from Tom Burgess, Kearney and finally ending in the hands of Jeffires.
This gave the Bulls a 22-16 lead, but on the half time hooter Rhys Hanbury was able to dive over in between the Bradford defenders. Despite hitting the post for the conversion, Widnes trailed by only two points at the break.
The second half started disappointingly for Widnes as Kurt Haggerty left the field with a serious looking knee injury. The injury didn’t affect Widnes immediately as the Vikings made the second half a real arm wrestle.
It took Bradford nearly 20 minutes to post the first try of the second half. Heath L’Estrange managed to burrow over the Widnes try line from close range.
Platt got his second try shortly after, giving the Bulls a comfortable 12 point lead. However Ah Van scored his second try of the afternoon to drag Widnes back into the match.
The Bulls forced the pressure onto the Vikings in the final moments of the game. Bradford had two drop goal attempts denied, firstly from a charge down by the Vikings and the second hit the post.
But the Bulls finally wore Widnes down, and Shaun Ainscough found his way over the Vikings try line with less than five minutes remaining in the match.
Bradford scores: T- Platt (2), Kearney, Ainscough (2), Jeffries, L’Estrange. G- Gale (5)
Widnes scores: T- Ah Van (2), Davies, Craven, Hanbury. G- Hanbury (2), Ah Van.
Bradford: Kearney; Ainscough, Platt, Lulia, Pryce; Jeffries, Gale; Kopzak, L’Estrange, Hargreaves; Olbison, Whitehead, Langley. Subs: Burgess, Manuokafoa, Walker, Addy.
Widnes: Phelps; Isa, Marsh, Dean, Ah Van; Craven, Hanbury; Davies, McShane, Pickersgill; Winterstein, Allen, Cahill. Subs: Clarke, Kite, Haggerty, Gerrard.
Referee: Steve Ganson
Half time: 22-20
Attendance: 10,261
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