Bradford Bulls fight off Centurions' challenge

SHORTLY after the final hooter, Monty Python's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' boomed out over the tannoy.

If it was an attempt to cheer up the disconsolate Leigh players, staff and supporters, then it was with good reason.

The result had just destroyed the Centurions' promotion dream and secured the Bulls a place in the Million Pound Game.

Leigh rugby director Derek Beaumont stood pitchside with a face like thunder while shaking the hand of his defeated players.

Moments later Paul Rowley spoke to the assembled media and admitted his men looked "a bit broken".

"We lacked conviction and energy," said Leigh's head coach after a fifth defeat in six games in the Super 8s Qualifiers.

"Bradford did nothing spectacular – they just worked hard."

Indeed, this was a Bulls performance founded on a collective desire and a willingness to fight for the cause.

It was about showing the kind of commitment which ensures you do not get pulled by a team-mate in the dressing room afterwards for not putting in a shift.

That conversation might have taken place after the abject surrenders against Widnes and Hull KR in the two weeks previously.

But not after Saturday's performance.

Not when a return to Super League is coming into increasingly sharp focus.

To go away to Leigh – just two regular-season defeats in the past two years, remember – and win is not easy.

It was not pretty at times either as players such as Paul Clough, Adam O'Brien and Jake Mullaney were left bloodied, battered and bruised.

Still, it was all in a good cause.

Aside from a calamitous spell before half-time when they allowed Leigh back into the match, Jimmy Lowes' men carried out the game-plan to something approaching perfection.

"We had to show that control and we couldn't offer Leigh an easy route out," reflected Lowes.

"They way the players conducted themselves and applied themselves was very good. They just worked extremely hard for each other and have done themselves proud."

Mullaney was outstanding at full back, while Adrian Purtell thoroughly enjoyed himself at stand-off, with his thoughtful range of kicking, both long and short, causing Leigh all kinds of problems.

Purtell combined effectively with Harry Siejka, who earned a start after Lee Gaskell was not risked despite having trained for much of last week.

O'Brien recovered from a late hit to enjoy another fine game, while Danny Williams and Matty Blythe both weighed in with well-taken braces.

But it was very much a collective effort from one to 17 and there was no mistaking the significance of the result.

After a regular-season campaign in which they have often struggled to find top gear, perhaps the Bulls have been saving themselves for when it matters most.

Victory over Halifax on Saturday in another televised encounter would certainly leave them in a very handy position.

Few can forget that opening-day clash at Leigh on February 15, which saw a mass brawl, six yellow cards and a post-match dust-up.

Much water has passed under the bridge since then but the bad blood still exists.

Bulls chairman Marc Green was banned from attending Saturday's fixture, while Leigh tried – and failed – to bar other members of the club's staff as well as local media representatives.

Leigh v Bulls match pictures

There was nothing sinister on or off the field this time around but Beaumont was at it again, rising from his seat in the main stand, arms outstretched, to respond to the taunts from the Bradford contingent.

Leigh even sent out a message over the tannoy during the game: "Could a Marc Green in the South Stand please contact a steward immediately."

Beaumont seemed to enjoy that, knowing his counterpart was banned from the ground and probably watching it at home on Sky.

It felt like pantomime season at times, albeit a few weeks early, but the serious action took place on the field.

The message from Lowes to his players would have been a simple one.

Keep calm, complete your sets, maintain your discipline.

The message was heeded.

After Leigh made the first handling error inside their own half, the Bulls worked the ball neatly through the hands of Siejka and Purtell, whose pass sent Mullaney over in the left corner in the third minute.

It was the perfect start and summed up Mullaney's coveted knack of supporting the line from full back.

Clough went close to a second try and then received treatment for a head injury, before O'Brien was caught late in a challenge which went unpunished.

Gregg McNally then made a superb saving tackle on Mullaney after Purtell's deft offload sent him clear. James Clare touched down but the pass from Dane Nielsen was forward and no try was awarded.

Yet the Bulls extended their lead in the 30th minute when Leigh twice failed to gather a clever Purtell kick, allowing Williams to dive on the loose ball.

Danny Addy, who had a big game back in his customary loose-forward berth, converted to make it 10-0.

In truth, the advantage should have been greater for all the territory and possession that Bradford had enjoyed.

But Leigh, who rarely threatened in the opening half hour, struck in the 37th minute when Bob Beswick's superb long pass put Adam Higson in at the right corner for a very tidy finish.

After Epalahame Lauaki conceded a daft penalty, McNally finished a sweeping move to level the scores at 10-10 at the break.

Beaumont celebrated with gusto and, while he is chiselled from a very different stone to Green, there is no denying his passion for Leigh.

The Bulls could have seen their confidence drain away after allowing Leigh back into the game.

But they struck again seven minutes after the restart when an inch-perfect Mullaney miss pass sent Williams over for his second try.

Addy converted and then added a penalty in the 58th minute after assistant coach Karl Harrison screamed to "take the two", making it 18-10.

Five minutes later, a clever short grubber kick from O'Brien set up Blythe to dive over for his first.

Addy slotted another penalty and, although Beswick scored a try to make it 26-16, Blythe picked up a loose ball to scamper clear of the Leigh defence for his second.

Cue delirium in the away end, which confirmed it was the Bulls' day.

It might just be their year.

Attendance: 4,621