Odsal old boy Sykes boots Bulls to worrying home defeat

IF one faint silver lining can emerge from this dismal defeat, it is that there remains one clear, unambiguous objective for the remainder of the Bulls’ season.

Making the top four.

Forget talk of bettering last season's second position; discard all notions of overhauling Leigh at the summit in the coming weeks.

Almost certainly write off any hope of pipping London into second spot.

As the table now stands, Rohan Smith’s men lie sixth in the table and they looked a million miles off being ready to return to Super League.

If the season were to finish right now, Bradford would not be in the mix to compete for a return to the promised land.

In a largely part-time league, that is worrying.

With the scores tied at 14-14, Adam Sidlow was penalised for shoving Dalton Grant and a sun-kissed Odsal held its breath as Paul Sykes took aim after the final hooter had sounded.

The former Bulls man, whose drop-goal had dumped Bradford out of the Challenge Cup earlier this year, did not falter as his trusty left boot sent the ball sailing between the posts once again from 39 metres.

That sealed another famous victory for Glenn Morrison’s men on a day when Smith was aiming to mark his first home game in charge with a victory.

The sun was shining, the script was written, the stage was his.

Yet it was Dewsbury counterpart Morrison, overlooked in favour of Smith for the Bulls job following Jimmy Lowes’ recent departure, who was grinning from ear to ear at the end.

Yesterday’s performance by Bradford was characterised by handling errors and a chronic lack of guile in attack that will give Smith much to think about.

The penalty count was massively in the Bulls’ favour – 16-8 – but their completion rate was desperately low and it showed.

Only when Adam O’Brien came off the bench at half-time did the Bulls show any kind of invention and creativity, with Oscar Thomas having been hauled off at the break.

Thomas might have felt aggrieved at being replaced when he had been one of the Bulls’ better performers at the end of a 40 minutes in which Dewsbury established a 14-6 lead.

It was no more than they deserved.

The day started badly for Bradford when Lucas Walshaw, making his first appearance of the year, suffered a blow to the head and was replaced after just three minutes.

The Rams have struggled badly for form and results of late but they were certainly up for this one and their performance was characterised by a collective desire.

Matt Groat, who infamously broke Lee Gaskell's jaw with an off-the-ball challenge when playing for Doncaster at Odsal last season, led by example up front which afforded Sykes and Andy Kain the time and space to play.

The Rams enjoyed a couple of decent early sets with Luke Adamson stopped just short before Grant almost grounded Sykes' last-tackle kick in the left corner.

Omari Caro then did just enough to force Dale Morton into touch from another smart pass from Sykes.

Smith worked with Sykes during their time together at London Broncos and the Bulls head coach had warned about his threat with the ball in hand and educated left boot.

Still, Sykes continued to see plenty of the ball and Mitch Clark was replaced by Adam Sidlow midway through the first half.

The Rams, having largely set up camp inside the Bulls' half, fashioned a neat handling sequence which saw the ball worked to centre Shane Grady, who powered through some flimsy Bradford challenges to touch down.

Sykes added the extras and then Richie Mathers knocked on just 10 metres from the Dewsbury line, ending a period of home pressure.

It was one of numerous handling errors by Smith's side and must have left the Australian pulling his hair out in the stands.

Nevertheless, the Bulls conjured a reply with one of their few attacks of note in the first half when Thomas kicked to the right corner.

Danny Williams did superbly well to catch the ball and field it into the path of Jay Pitts, who dived over the line for a try which Danny Addy converted in style.

Addy was then held up over the line and, in fairness to Epalahame Lauaki on his first appearance since round one, he made a handful of decent carries in three separate spells.

Dewsbury then lost Aaron Brown to injury and he was replaced by Rob Spicer, but three minutes before the break the visitors struck again.

Second-rower Scott Hale embarked on a purposeful run inside the right channel and found the speedy full back Josh Guzdek in support.

James Clare was there to cover but Guzdek has just enough pace to see off the full back's challenge and touch down for a try which Sykes converted.

Lauaki did not make it until half-time before being replaced by Clark, but a penalty by Sykes stretched Dewsbury's lead to 14-6 at the break.

Smith hauled Thomas off at the break, bringing on O'Brien at hooker and putting Addy into the halves alongside Mathers.

It again highlighted the Bulls' lack of attacking options on a weekend when Leigh debutant Travis Burns scored twice in their win at Whitehaven, with fellow half-backs Josh Drinkwater and Ben Reynolds also registering points for the Championship leaders.

O’Brien’s introduction breathed new life into the Bulls and his energy and drive from dummy half was just the tonic they needed.

It also begged the question why he was not starting the match, although Smith reiterated afterwards that he does not see O’Brien as an 80-minute hooker.

New signing Kieren Moss was introduced to the crowd and interview on the pitch at half-time, while yards away in the home dressing room presumably Smith was giving his players a roasting.

Dewsbury began the second half strongly, with Bradford conceding a goal-line drop-out from another teasing kick from Sykes.

Jason Crookes, who ran strongly all afternoon inside the left channel, was then held up.

Addy kicked a penalty to cut Dewsbury's lead to 14-8 and, as the second half progressed, the Rams conceded a glut of penalties.

Referee Warren Turley put them on three team warnings but when the offending continued, he did not issue any yellow cards.

The pressure from Bradford grew incessant and in the 61st minute O'Brien darted over the line from in trademark fashion from acting half.

Addy missed the relatively straightforward conversion and Dewsbury's lead remained intact by just two points.

The Bulls created a decent opening in the final quarter but ambition got the better of Haggerty and his wild flicked pass blew a great opportunity.

Dewsbury were forced to defend like demons in the face of an onslaught from the Bulls.

Time and time again the hosts struggled to unlock their opponents’ defence but, with time running out, former Bulls hooker Nathan Conroy caught Clark late on and was shown a yellow card.

Having chosen to run a penalty moments earlier, this time Addy went for goal to level matters up at 14-14.

Yet the late drama was still to come as Sidlow erred and Sykes did the rest. Game over.