Lucky 13 as Bradford Bulls shrug off early jitters

IT IS now 13 straight Championship victories and counting for Jimmy Lowes and his players.

This latest success came despite an horrendous start which saw London establish an early 12-0 lead at the sparsely-populated Hive venue.

While most of the eyes of the rugby league world were on St James' Park for the Magic Weekend, this was another grim reminder about life in the lower level; or at least, the opening ten minutes were.

Tries from Tom Gilmore and Jamie Thackray put the Broncos in control before the Bulls gradually made their superior class pay.

Ryan Shaw and Danny Williams touched down to level things up at the break before second-half scores from Adam Henry, Etu Uaisele, Adam Sidlow and Adam O'Brien finished London off.

These sides had met on the final day of last season when they bid farewell to Super League.

Although a top-flight return may prove beyond London this season, they are commanding respect under the guidance of player-coach Andrew Henderson.

The Broncos had battered Sheffield Eagles 46-6 eight days earlier in the Summer Bash and are gradually coming to terms with life in the second tier.

Elliot Kear, who scored two tries and was dangerous throughout from full back against Sheffield, was among a number of former Bradford men in the Broncos' ranks yesterday.

Ben Hellewell and Elliot Minchella, who both spent time in the juniors at Odsal, also made London's starting line-up, while another Bradford lad – on-loan Leigh prop Jonny Walker – made his debut off the bench.

Then there was Brian Noble, of course. The legendary former Bulls boss kept a low profile yesterday but he has been instrumental behind the scenes at London in recent weeks.

Noble came on board as a part-time mentor to rookie player-boss Henderson and has been working at the club for a couple of days a week on a consultancy basis.

Henderson had come out of retirement to play against Sheffield and the move proved a masterstroke.

He was similarly effective during the opening exchanges here as London continued where they had left off at Blackpool with a dominant start.

With Henderson orchestrating affairs from the ruck, London led in the seventh minute when scrum half Gilmore – on dual-registration from Widnes – collected possession after some neat handling from the Broncos deep in Bradford territory.

Gilmore's teasing grubber kick was not dealt with by the Bulls defence and Gilmore followed up to ground the loose ball.

It was shocking defending from the visitors – and things soon got worse for Lowes' players.

After Lee Gaskell had uncharacteristically kicked out on the full from the restart, punishment swiftly followed.

From the resulting penalty, the Broncos marched downfield and Thackray showed impressive strength to barrel his way over the line.

In truth, it was all too easy for the hosts, with Wes Naiqama converting both tries to make it 12-0.

Thackray and Rhys Lovegrove, along with Henderson, formed an experienced front row for London and they were pivotal in the hosts' early control.

But then Bradford woke up and remembered they could actually perform.

The shift in momentum was quite staggering as the Bulls hit back to dominate the remainder of the first half and score two tries to level things up at 12-12.

Bradford, who were unchanged from the previous week's win over Halifax, began to gradually move through the gears.

Adrian Purtell, Paul Clough and Danny Addy all went close before a brilliant tackle kept Henry at bay from close range.

Yet the Bulls continued to probe and it seemed inevitable that London's line would eventually be breached.

After Kear had gone close for London at the other end, Bradford got off the mark in the 18th minute when Shaw again illustrated his eye for a try.

Gaskell was the architect, brilliantly finding the time and space in a tight situation just short of the line to offload to the supporting Shaw.

The Cumbrian had a simple task to cross the line from close range and also added the extras to halve the deficit.

Confidence, self-belief and energy began to flow through the veins of Lowes' players and they began to dominate.

London v Bulls match pictures

In the 22nd minute, they were level as O'Brien collected possession from acting half and his quick pass sent Williams plunging over the line inside the left channel.

Shaw converted to level things up – but the Bulls' cause was not helped when Addy was replaced, looking a little groggy after a heavy collision.

That necessitated a change which saw James Mendeika brought on at scrum half alongside Gaskell, with Addy sitting out the remainder of the match.

Although the Bulls largely dominated field position in the rest of the first period, they could not add a third try after Steve Crossley was held up on the stroke of half-time.

At 12-12 heading into the interval, it was very much game on. Which side would prosper in the second half?

The game was neatly poised but, after a balanced start on the resumption, the Bulls seized the initiative.

After Uaisele made a fine saving tackle to deny the Broncos, Bradford edged ahead after a bullocking run from Tom Olbison.

The second-rower made impressive inroads inside London's 20-metre line but, after his progress was halted, Gaskell sent a crafty grubber kick behind the home defence and Henry touched down.

Henry grew into the match and had an increasing influence on proceedings.

He looked to have scored again in the 58th minute but the Broncos got a hand to Mendeika's kick to deny the New Zealander a second try.

Moments later, however, Henry turned creator for a try which finished London off.

Mendeika was involved in a slick handling sequence which culminated in Henry sending Uaisele over in the right corner. Shaw converted with aplomb to make it 24-12 and the Broncos were now finished.

The Bulls were not, however. They scored again in the 62nd minute when Sidlow emerged from a pile of bodies to ground the ball and Shaw maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot.

London replied when Thackray barrelled over the line for his second try but the Bulls had the final say when O'Brien scampered through a gap to score and Shaw added his sixth goal from as many attempts.

Attendance: 1,101