It's a Shaw thing as Bradford Bulls charge to big win

THE last time Bradford had met Hunslet prior to yesterday’s clash was a Challenge Cup fifth-round tie at Headingley in March 2003.

They won 82-0 that day, aided by Lesley Vainikolo’s first hat-trick for the Bulls, and went on to lift the famous old trophy, the League Leaders’ Shield and the Super League title.

It was quite some year in the history of Bradford Bulls.

Much water has passed under the bridge since then but, 12 years on, 2015 also promises to be a momentous campaign.

Jimmy Lowes, a key figure in that much-loved Bulls team, is presiding over a steady renaissance of the club he holds close to his heart.

The head coach’s new-look team, rebuilt in the aftermath of last season’s relegation, are shaping up very nicely.

This win, overshadowed by first-half injuries to Adrian Purtell (hamstring) and Alex Mellor (sprained ankle), followed the demolition of Featherstone seven days earlier.

The Bulls scored six first-half tries to lead Hunslet 34-0 at the break, encouraging hopes that the 82-point winning margin of 2003 might be topped.

The second half was not quite as exhilarating, but take nothing away from Hunslet for their refusal to capitulate.

Barry Eaton's men steadied themselves after the break and hit back with a try from Luke Briscoe, but the outcome had lone since been decided.

The first half saw to that and was about as one-sided as it gets.

Ryan Shaw is rapidly making him indispensable at full back and his latest showing underlined his ability to constantly support the attack and finish moves off.

He scored three well-taken tries, might have had a fourth, and also kicked eight conversions from ten attempts in a personal haul of 28 points.

Lee Gaskell and Jake Mullaney were similarly effective again in the halves and Adam O’Brien knitted the team together superbly once again.

There will be greater challenges than this for Lowes’ men.

There has to be.

But in comprehensively dismantling part-time opposition such as Hunslet, the Bulls are taking small, steady steps to where they need to be.

Hunslet included six Leeds Rhinos players in their team, including Brett Delaney, rated as one of the best back-rowers in Super League.

It did not matter.

The Bulls were superior in every department: contact, speed, skill and fitness.

Hunslet barely managed to escape their own half during the opening 40 minutes but the introduction of former Bulls junior George Flanagan ten minutes before the break gave them a lift.

The boyhood Bradford fan was twice held up over the line in quick succession, thus denying him a dream try against the club where it all began for him.

The Hawks lacked nothing in spirit but they simply could not cope with the speed and vibrancy of the Bulls’ attacks.

The late withdrawal of Etu Uaisele due to a hamstring injury and Chris Ulugia’s non-selection meant the Bulls had two different starting wingers yesterday.

Danny Williams was back after a one-match ban and enjoyed a fine game while Adam Henry made his first appearance of the season.

Dan Fleming made his debut off the bench with Lowes deciding to rest Epalahame Lauaki following his cameo off the bench at Featherstone.

That is the luxury that Lowes can enjoy – a number of players remain unavailable through injury but he can still afford to rotate his squad.

The Bulls needed just six minutes to claim their first try yesterday as Gaskell’s delightful pass found Mullaney in support around 40 metres out.

The Australian was too quick for the Hunslet defence as he burst through a gap to score.

Moments later, Williams collected possession on the left flank and shrugged off the challenge of James Duckworth before cleverly ushering the supporting Gaskell over with a neat pass.

Those two tries sucked the life out of Hunslet and poured confidence into the Bulls.

If they could put forty points on Featherstone, what might they be capable of against Hunslet?

The one-way traffic continued, aided and abetted by a 40-20 by Gaskell.

The tactical manoeuvre so often leads to a try and it led to the visitors finding themselves under the cosh.

Purtell was held up but took a knock in the process and was replaced by Tom Olbison.

The third try soon arrived, though, as O’Brien impishly darted over from dummy half with Shaw kicking his second goal from three attempts.

O’Brien showed impressive strength to force his way through two would-be tacklers and cross the line.

Shaw then bagged his first try in the 19th minute when he finished well from Mullaney’s fine assist.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Shaw claimed his second when Gaskell found him with a delicate inside pass which sent the Cumbrian crashing over the line to finish off a fine flowing move.

Hunslet brought on Flanagan ten minutes before the break and he went agonisingly close to scoring from dummy half.

It would have been a dream moment for the boyhood Bulls fan, who spent six years on the club’s books but never played for the first-team.

Williams added a sixth on the stroke of half-time when he grounded a high kick from Gaskell in the left corner, with Shaw's goal making it 34-0.

The second half was a more low-key affair with the Bulls down to 15 men due to the first-half injuries to Mellor and Purtell.

It took the Bulls until the 59th minute to score again, this time through Olbison inside the left channel while Fleming came off the bench to make his bow.

Luke Briscoe, on a season-long loan from Leeds, pulled a try back for Hunslet in the 63rd minute.

But Shaw soon completed his hat-trick from another Gaskell offload and O’Brien then brilliantly dummied his way past a Hunslet defender to scamper clear for his second and the Bulls’ ninth.

Mullaney completed the scoring late on with another clinical finish inside the right channel and Shaw kicked his eighth goal.

The injuries aside, it was a pleasing afternoon’s work for Lowes and his men, who can now look forward to a trip to Batley on Sunday.