OLDHAM 16 BULLS 20

AFTER yet another tough week and a pretty hellish season, Bulls players, staff and supporters needed something to cheer.

And, while this was ‘only’ a victory over Oldham – and came far too late to save Bradford from relegation to League One – there was at last something to celebrate as they finally moved off zero points.

Victories have been few and far between for the Bulls this campaign, particularly over the second half of the season, so any excuse to party will be gratefully received.

And that’s exactly what the Bulls travelling support did at Bower Fold yesterday, with an estimated two-thirds of the 853 crowd enjoying a superb first-half attacking display followed by a disjointed, battling rearguard effort after the break.

It was enough for the Bulls’ seventh triumph of the year – and that was all that mattered.

As promised, boss Geoff Toovey went with a strong starting line-up for the visitors, with Josh Rickett the only ‘inexperienced’ young gun to be given the nod.

And it was Rickett himself who opened the scoring seven minutes in as Joe Keyes’ cracking pass took two Oldham players out of the game, and Rickett sprinted over on the left flank to open his account for the club in front of the Bradford fans.

Lee Smith was unable to land the tricky kick from out on the touchline, but the Bulls had their noses in front – and were looking full of energy.

After some impressive defence on their own line they headed up the other end of the field, and landed their second score.

Skipper Scott Moore was the man to touch down after some excellent work from interchange Mikolaj Oledzki a yard or two shy of the line. Lee Smith added the extras this time, from right in front of the posts, and it was 10-0 to the visitors.

The Bulls were playing with a freedom rarely seen this campaign – admittedly against a poor Oldham side themselves low on confidence.

As a result, try number three wasn’t long in coming as the Bulls stretched their legs and their lead with another fine attacking move.

This time, Vila Halafihi’s flick was enough to unlock the home defence, with James Bentley gliding past his ‘tackler’ and diving over in the corner.

Although Cory Aston’s conversion attempt sailed wide, the Rhinos man was soon on the scoresheet after the Bulls launched a superb breakaway from their own half. Bentley stormed clear before feeding Aston who added number four and the extras.

The Bulls were in complete control at 20-0 but, perhaps predictably, gave their hosts a glimmer of hope before the half hour mark, allowing Jack Spencer to barge over their line for Oldham’s first points. Luke Hooley booted the extras and it was 20-6.

The Bulls could have responded almost immediately with their fifth try, but Aston was unable to hold onto a sharp pass a couple of yards out after another decent attacking set from Toovey’s men.

Sam Hallas also went close before the break, surging across the line, but referee John McMullen had already blown for a forward pass from Lee Smith.

That was the last action of the first half and all looked pretty rosy for the visitors.

However, the second period started with a jolt as Oldham reduced the deficit further.

After a five-minute spell of sustained pressure from the Roughyeds, the Bulls defence cracked with Danny Grimshaw powering across the whitewash. Former Bradford youngster Hooley sliced his kick wide, but Oldham were back within ten points at 20-10, and it was very much ‘game on’.

They narrowed that gap to four shortly after as more pressure culminated in Michael Ward burrowing over through three Bulls defenders. The big Oldham man appeared to touch the ball down on his own leg, but referee McMullen was happy to award the try as his decisions continued to mystify and confuse in equal measure.

Hooley was successful with the kick this time around, and the Bulls were just 20-16 up with plenty of time left in the game.

It was looking like Rochdale away all over again as the home side roared back after the Bulls had appeared in total control after half an hour.

Lee Smith mopped up another Oldham attack as that pressure intensified, and referee McMullen gave the Bulls an important reprieve – disallowing a Luke Adamson ‘try’ for crossing. In fairness, Bradford were due a decision or two from the man in the middle.

The visitors needed a momentum shift, and so nearly got it when Rickett was held inches short of the line after a fine Lee Smith grubber. Bentley got even closer seconds later, but was again halted tantalisingly close to the whitewash.

That attack proved to be brief respite for the Bulls as Oldham’s pressure intensified at the other end of the park.

Matthew Wilkinson was brilliantly held up on the line as the away side dug in to protect their precious four-point advantage, while the imposing Sadiq Adebiyi was next to be denied after another barracking run towards the Bulls line.

When a late grubber kick bounced out, the Bulls fans at that end breathed another huge sigh of relief, but there was still four minutes to see out for victory.

Having been robbed of forwards Oledzki, Ross Peltier and Damian Sironen for large parts of the second half, the Bulls needed one more huge effort to bag two points.

And with Oldham suddenly unable to keep hold of the ball, they achieved just that to the delight of the travelling faithful.

Now, can they repeat the trick at Swinton next weekend – and give the Bulls another away day to enjoy?