6:30am Saturday 6th February 2010
By Connor Murphy
Huddersfield 24, Bulls 12
Pre-season promise failed to translate into actual results as the Bulls made a stuttering start to Super League XV.
All the encouragement taken from an off-season shake-up and four positive trial games was lost in the fog at the Galpharm Stadium, with Huddersfield comfortably ending the visitors’ run of five straight league triumphs.
Steve McNamara’s side were, quite simply, their own worst enemy. A string of errors throughout the first half meant they were always chasing the game, a pursuit that was ultimately in vain.
Not even Aussie superstar Matt Orford could make a difference on his competitive debut for the Bulls, despite glimpses of his undeniable class.
It must have felt just like home, as the former Manly scrum half barely got any sight of the quick play-the-ball expected on his arrival in England, the physical Giants effective in ensuring their opponents never got on a roll.
That said, the game was not completely without positives and Stuart Reardon will take heart from two tries in his first game since returning to Bradford - his first after an 18-month injury lay-off.
But a back-to-basics approach would serve the Bulls well when they take on St Helens next week. They just cannot afford to make this many mistakes and expect to get away with it.
It was all the more frustrating as McNamara’s troops followed their early game-plan to the letter.
Looking to play disciplined, patient football, they pushed the Giants onto the back foot, forcing them to drop-out between their own posts within the first few minutes.
All they had to do was keep their composure but, like children in a sweet shop, they excitedly went straight for the goodies.
True, Huddersfield’s compact defence meant there was space to be exploited out wide, a fact that was ruthlessly exposed by Bradford in the corresponding fixture last year - a 28-18 win.
But too many needless risks were taken in attempting to do so and a promising position slipped agonisingly away.
A Dave Halley offload failed to find hands and another wide move was botched when an over-eager pass sailed out of bounds.
From that point on, the Bulls struggled to even complete a set and their self-imposed woes were ruthlessly punished by the hosts.
Huddersfield hit the front within seven minutes as Bradford were the ones made to look flimsy out wide.
Brett Hodgson came into the line and, as Reardon was sucked in-field, the full back’s cut-out pass gave Leroy Cudjoe a casual stroll towards the try-line. Hodgson added the conversion to open a six-point gap.
The Bulls certainly didn’t lack the determination to make amends but errors only kept on coming.
Jamie Langley dropped the ball on his own 20-metre line, marring an otherwise solid performance, and the Giants made another opportunity count.
Again, they took advantage of a gaping hole on the right flank, Hodgson chipping straight into Cudjoe’s waiting arms and the winger scored his second try without even having to get his shirt dirty.
Unbelievably, Bradford’s handling did not get any better. This time it was Paul Sykes’ turn to knock on and Shaun Lunt squirmed over from dummy half, giving Hodgson an easy conversion.
The Bulls’ fragile confidence seemed to be nearing breaking point and, had Hodgson scored a glorious chance on 27 minutes, it would surely have been game over.
There was a large element of luck about the opening, Rikki Sheriffe deflecting Michael Lawrence’s pass into space. Hodgson hacked on but then seemed to dally as the ball trickled through the in-goal and could only apply the necessary downward pressure as it rolled onto the touchline.
Another near escape followed soon after, Eorl Crabtree piling towards the try-line from Kevin Brown’s clever offload, yet he was held up short before knocking on at the play-the-ball.
By rights, Bradford should not have even been in the match but they ended the first half only eight points behind thanks to a four-minute purple patch.
Up to their usual tricks at the ruck, the Giants brought trouble upon themselves, committing a string of offences, although the home fans were quick to point the finger at referee Steve Ganson.
After Huddersfield were pinged for a high shot on Brett Kearney, the Bulls finally got themselves off the mark.
Orford used Mike Worrincy’s dummy run expertly, opening up the field with an angled pass to Chris Nero. With Huddersfield stretched, the Aussie centre calmly sent in Reardon, who went some way to making up for earlier errors.
And right on the stroke of half-time, the Bulls forced their way right back into contention. The Giants were penalised for holding on and Orford sent a pinpoint kick to the right wing. Sykes collected, spun and shifted the ball wide, Sheriffe finishing well in the corner.
After that unexpected boost, Bradford needed a solid start to the second half. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Kiwi second-rower David Fa’alogo blasted onto Lunt’s short ball from dummy half to score from close range and Hodgson added the extras, putting the visitors almost back to square one.
But, despite that setback, Bradford continued to have chances. Following the theme started late in the first half, Ganson continually pinged the hosts and Luke Robinson was sent to the sin bin for holding on.
But the Bulls failed to take full advantage and Hodgson kicked a penalty to add to his side’s lead.
Grateful to escape their shorthanded spell without conceding, the Giants did not seem to learn from their mistakes and Lee Gilmour soon followed Robinson in doing the walk of shame, the back-rower penalised for taking out Kearney as the Aussie stand-off looked to chase his own grubber towards the line.
This time, the Bulls made their advantage count, although Ganson needed the help of the video referee to confirm the much-needed score.
Nero made a delightful pass out of the tackle, doing his best impression of Stretch Armstrong to free his arms and find Reardon, who made a bee-line for the corner, squeezing in to score despite Cudjoe's attempts to bundle him into touch.
Orford assumed kicking duties after Sykes’ two earlier misses but he too was off-target with the boot.
It barely mattered. Despite having the lion’s share of possession, the Bulls were unable to make it count.
Attendance: 9,774
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