Match report: To put it bluntly, Lowes swears Bradford Bulls must sharpen up their act

JIMMY Lowes hit the nail on the head.

“We were terrible today – terrible – and I’m really p****d off to be honest,” said the Bulls coach.

Lowes is as honest and blunt as they come and he made no attempt whatsoever to disguise his side’s shortcomings.

Once again, the Bulls looked a million miles away from being ready to return to Super League after a laboured performance against Phil Veivers’ men.

Lowes had branded his players as rubbish following their stuttering victory over Dewsbury a week earlier and he was similarly scathing here.

It was a 16th straight Championship victory but it was never comfortable and certainly not as convincing as the scoreline suggests.

Workington had been stuffed 52-0 at home by Featherstone seven days earlier.

Early tries from Adam Henry (2) and Adam Sidlow put the visitors in control yesterday but the Bulls then switched off for the rest of the first half.

Workington, inspired by the introduction off the bench of Wigan youngster Sam Powell, cut Bradford’s lead to six points at the break.

Powell scored twice to pour confidence into Veivers’ side but a devastating purple patch in the final quarter finally put the Cumbrians to bed.

It harvested four tries in seven minutes as Jake Mullaney scored twice and Epalahame Lauaki and Danny Williams also went over.

But the scoreline from the Leigh Sports Village – where Paul Rowley’s men crushed Sheffield 58-14 – confirmed that Leigh are not about to surrender top spot slightly.

Lowes made a fairly big call by axing Etu Uaisele and replacing him with Ryan Shaw on the right wing.

Mullaney was moved to full back to accommodate the return of fit-again Harry Siejka at half-back alongside Danny Addy.

Siejka had not played since sustaining ankle ligament damage against London in April, which required surgery.

The Australian played 80 minutes yesterday and dovetailed with Addy effectively in patches, with the pair combining for the opening try in the fifth minute.

The Bulls pushed Workington back inside their 20-metre line and Siejka and Addy combined to find Mullaney in support.

Mullaney did well to keep the move flowing with a short pass to Adam Henry, who brushed past Workington scrum half Carl Forber all too easily to score.

The hosts were dealt a blow moments later when hooker Graeme Mattinson succumbed to injury and was replaced by Powell.

Workington did not lack enthusiasm but they struggled to keep the Bulls at bay and a second visiting try arrived in the 13th minute.

Jay Pitts was denied from close range but on the next tackle Adam O’Brien collected possession at dummy half and sent Sidlow barrelling over the line.

It was a sweet moment for Sidlow, scoring against the club where he enjoyed a successful spell in 2007.

A third try arrived in the 23rd minute when Mullaney supported another attack and sent a teasing grubber kick behind the Workington defence and into the right corner.

Henry was again on hand to touch down and Shaw’s second goal made it 16-0.

That should have been the platform for Bradford to coast to an emphatic victory, but Workington had other ideas.

They fashioned an outstanding response which saw them hit back with two tries to cut the Bulls’ lead to six points at the break.

It was no more than they deserved.

Powell scored them both and enjoyed a fine game after coming off the bench.

His first came when, after Workington forced the Bulls to drop out, Powell was on hand to touch down from close range as the ball fell invitingly into his path.

Steve Crossley, who had replaced Paul Clough moments earlier, then lost the ball just inches from Workington’s line.

Town stand-off Jamie Doran kicked a delightful 40-20 and the tactical manoeuvre which so often leads to a try did so again here.

From that set of six, Workington loose forward Karl Olstrom was denied and his team went close again before Powell was on hand to touch down from close range.

Jack Murphy converted and the two tries in five minutes poured confidence into Veivers’ players.

They began to defend with far more aggression and looked increasingly dangerous when they attacked. Matty Blythe, who replaced Dale Ferguson, almost broke clear after charging down a kick from Doran and he then lost control of the ball as he appeared destined to score just before the break.

The Bulls made numerous handling errors during the first half and they continued where they left off after the restart, with Mullaney knocking on under no pressure.

Workington enjoyed plenty of decent field position early in the second half but they could not make it pay.

The Bulls defended their line far better, with Lauaki, who passed a late fitness test, making his presence felt after replacing Sidlow in the 53rd minute.

The pendulum began to swing back in the Bulls’ favour and they grabbed the crucial first try of the second half in the 63rd minute.

Addy was denied from close range but on the next tackle O’Brien’s quick pass sent Mullaney scampering over the line.

Lowes then made a double substitution, replacing Henry and Blythe with James Mendeika and Ferguson.

Lauaki showed impressive strength to barrel his way past a pack of Workington defenders to cross the line in the 65th minute for his first try.

Bradford dominated possession during this spell and they duly score again in the 68th minute when Purtell’s short pass sent Williams over in the left corner.

Life began to drain from the Cumbrian hosts and the Bulls knew they had the game won. They scored again when O’Brien brilliantly broke from halfway and showed intelligence to usher the supporting Mullaney clear from 30 metres out.

The Australian sprinted under the posts for the best try of the game, but Workington had the final say as Connor Farrell outmuscled the Bulls’ defence to score inside the right channel.

Moments later, Mullaney took a heavy knock as he burst onto a pass around 20 metres out, with the collision forcing him off in the closing stages of the match.