We can't afford any Giant mistakes, warns Lynch (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

We can't afford any Giant mistakes, warns Lynch

7:00am Wednesday 3rd February 2010 in

By Connor Murphy » Bradford Bulls Reporter

Skip social links
Print
Email
Comments(18)

Andy Lynch has warned his team-mates they can afford no slip-ups when they kick off Super League XV at Huddersfield Giants on Friday.

After finishing third last season, the Giants have only strengthened during the winter, making them an even more imposing threat for the new campaign.

But Bulls skipper Lynch believes a stern test first up is just what Bradford need – as long as they learn their lessons from last week’s 18-16 win at Hull KR.

The Bulls triumphed in their final pre-season trial at Craven Park, but only just.

After conceding a last-gasp try, they enjoyed a significant slice of luck when the usually-reliable Michael Dobson missed a kick that would have tied the game.

Lynch knows Huddersfield won’t be quite so generous come Friday. He said: “You’ve got to be on your game, you can’t afford to slip up. In the last two minutes at Hull KR we were setting up for a drop goal and then dropped that ball.

“They went down the other end of the field and ended up scoring. If they’d kicked the goal they would’ve won the game.

“I don’t think that would’ve been a fair reflection because we did a lot of things well.

“But still, we did do a lot of poor things and if we can put the wrongs right for this week, it’s going to be an exciting game.”

Bradford’s trip to the Galpharm Stadium is the kind of clash Lynch relishes.

An honest prop who is among the toughest in Super League, he can’t wait to go toe-to-toe with Huddersfield’s giant pack, which includes the likes of Eorl Crabtree and new arrivals Lee Gilmour and David Fa’alogo.

Lynch said: “It’s going to be massive and we’ve got to be on our game to combat them.

“They’re a big set of forwards and they’ll be confident after finishing third last season and winning their pre-season friendly against Castleford.

"They’ll be bigger and stronger than they were last year so, as forwards, we’ve got to get on top and be dominant. That’ll go a long way to putting us in place to win the game.”

With that in mind, Lynch doesn’t expect either team to throw the ball round with abandon – especially considering the early-season weather conditions.

He said: “You’re not going to see the flamboyant stuff you’ve seen in June and July.

“You’ll probably see a bit of it but a lot of it will just be grinding out your sets, getting down to the other end of the field and keeping your team there.

“If you complete your sets and get a completion rate over 80 per cent, you’ll go a long way to getting the two points.”

*Dont forget to buy the T&A today for your free 12-page guide to the new season

Comments(18)

Ralphie says...
9:43am Wed 3 Feb 10

Bit puzzled about the HKR game.
Presumably the score was 18-12 and the Bulls were going for a drop goal. They drop the ball HKR go down the other end and score a try and according to Andy they would have won if they had kicked the goal?
Perhaps we had not rely to much on his decisions in the lattter stages of tight matches!
Seriously though congratulations to Andy on becoming captain it is richly deserved!