Bulls overcome the great outdoors

It has brought them silverware, it has delighted their fans, it has delivered the missing trophy of a Challenge Cup to the coach and proved to the players what they are capable of.

But it also brought with it one negative, and it is not the tiredness or emotional hangover you would expect from such a mentally draining

victory.

It is simply an inability to play outdoors.

The roof on the wonderful stadium in the Principality on Saturday ensured a dry ball, a perfect playing surface and the perfect kicking conditions.

Contrast last night in Lancashire, the howling wind and rain ensured plenty of knock-ons, lots of falling over and a rare night of inaccuracy from Paul Deacon.

Bradford were simply not coping with the conditions.

Fortunately for Brian Noble, who had to endure another heart-pounding nail-biter, his men remembered their outdoor skills for the second-half.

They went in 6-0 at the break only to fall further behind from another penalty.

But a second-half blitz of three tries, no mean feat on this treacherous surface, ensured two more vital Super League points for the Bulls with Wigan only content in the knowledge that even without seven star players missing they are capable of holding their own against the cup holders and heir apparents to the Super League crown.

There were elements of bravery and last-ditch tackling on show in Wigan that were echoes of the events of Cardiff and this time it was the Bulls who had to come from behind, and in doing so showed Leeds how to deal with adversity.

Things started well for the Bradford side, only in the sense that they were able to make their fewest number of changes from week to week, with only Richard Moore coming in for the injured Karl Pratt.

But within 40 seconds of the hooter going, things were not looking good for the men from Odsal. David Hodgson combined well with Jamie Ainscough, returning from a knee injury, and the winger completed an 80-metre move to give Wigan, conquerors of Saints in their last outing, the lead. Danny Tickle failed to add the extras and it was game on.

With no roof to protect them, and the rain bucketing down, Bradford proceeded to make an obscene number of handling errors.

The half was littered with bombed passes and knock ons with Paul Deacon easily the worst offender - the ball was "like a bar of soap" he said afterwards.

The Bulls temporarily seemed to forget the effect of the elements on the pitch as Jamie Peacock, Lee Radford and Robbie Paul all had as much trouble standing up as they did during the party in the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, the night of their cup victory.

Bradford also survived a couple of hairy incidents where a stricter referee could have condemned them to at least another four points behind.

First Tevita Vaikona looked to have taken out Kris Radlinsko chasing a Sean O'Loughlin kick while three minutes later Peacock could have been adjudged to have impeded Ainscough in chasing down a loose ball - instead a sliding tackle from the second-rower made the ball safe.

Bradford were simply guilty of making too many mistakes and were losing field position as well as the game because of it.

The lead was extended to eight points after 26 minutes when Jimmy Lowes couldn't get out the way of a Wigan play-the-ball and Tickle did manage to hit the spot.

The Bulls spurned their best, and probably only, chance of the half just six minutes before the break.

Brian Carney caught a Paul Deacon bomb but was forced out of play by an enthusiastic Shontayne Hape.

The Bulls had possession just yards out but, inevitably, a dropped ball by Deacon in the build-up cost Bradford what could have been a way back into the game.

So it was Noble's men who had to perform their usual role of trudging off the pitch behind only to return to battle energised and ready to go.

Unfortunately things didn't go to plan with Lee Gilmour taking out O'Loughlin and Tickle sending over another penalty for 8-0 within minutes of the re-start.

Bradford needed to get over last week's exertions and muscle up, something they did in the 47th minute.

Deacon sent a pass out to Pryce who weaved past two men before embarking on a slide that was eventually going to take him across the line for the four points - even if the video referee thought it was worth looking at.

Deacon missed the conversion and then, surprisingly, also missed the target again after Gareth Hock had been penalised for holding down Robbie Paul. This time the wayward kick struck a post.

And 17 minutes later the game was tied-up after a remarkable moment of individual brilliance.

Lesley Vainikolo had chased down a Deacon kick for a drop-out, nothing remarkable in that.

But during that set, Pryce cut across and when cornered he lifted the ball over his head and tossed it down to Deacon, who simply palmed it across himself for fear of being tackled and the ball landed in the grateful arms of the Volcano, who dived over in the corner.

Deacon was again off-target with his kicking, a most rare and unnatural sight.

Four minutes the video referee was needlessly called up to rule out Lowes' effort for a Shontayne Hape knock on and we were heading for yet another grandstand finish.

Adrian Lam's drop goal was straight but more of grubber, though passing under the posts.

In the dying minutes, Bradford took the lead courtesy of the only man who could save them in this situation.

Veteran hooker Lowes put a clever little dink over the defence, but unfortunately he was taken out for his troubles.

But no one was calling for a penalty when Pryce came out of nowhere to collect the ball, swerve round the last man and dive over between the sticks.

This kick Deacon did manage as the game was completed with the Bulls having earned their 10th win in a row.

Now that is something to raise the roof about.