Bradford Bulls cut Giants down to size (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls cut Giants down to size

7:50am Monday 18th July 2011 in Match Reports By Simon Parker

Bradford Bulls 36 Huddersfield Giants 0

Hold the play-off obituaries for now. Maybe, just maybe, we’ve written them off too soon.

Could the Bulls stun their critics and pinch the unlikeliest of late tickets to the party?

The odds remain stacked against them bridging the three-point gap to the magical eighth spot. With Warrington next up and Wigan also to follow, there are still major obstacles to overcome.

But hey, let’s just enjoy the moment. Huddersfield are supposed to be one of the top contenders – and they were ripped apart at Odsal yesterday.

The Bulls turned the Super League table on its head with as dominant a performance as any all season.

After back-to-back losses against Catalan Dragons and Castleford, yesterday was supposed to be the afternoon when the lights were officially switched off for another year. Nothing to see here any more; better luck next time.

But the Bulls had refused to read the script. Instead of rolling over, they delivered a disciplined and dynamic display which ruthlessly cut the Giants down to size.

Huddersfield were beyond bad but take nothing away from the intensity and courage of the hosts.

Huddersfield, looking to retain third spot with a win, had wobbled on the road in recent weeks with defeats at Warrington, Wakefield and Wigan. But with inspirational scrum half Danny Brough back almost a month ahead of schedule from an ankle injury, they were confident of prolonging the home side’s agony.

The Giants had racked up a half-century of points on their last hop across the M62 – and did the same when the neighbours met in March. They arrived at Odsal as firm favourites.

The pre-match summer carnival had ploughed on through the rain in conditions hardly suited for the latin dancers in their skimpy bikinis.

The Bulls needed to show the same spirit in adversity if the last five games of the regular season were going to be worth anything more than pride.

Huddersfield’s physical approach was in evidence early on as Brett Kearney took a hefty shot around the collarbone as he ran Brough’s kick out of the in goal.

But the Bulls looked up for it and were first on the scoreboard in the 11th minute after Jermaine McGillivray had lost the ball. Good work close to the line from Andy Lynch and Bryn Hargreaves opened up enough of a gap for Ben Jeffries to touch down near the posts, Patrick Ah Van improving.

The Bulls kept up the pressure and winger McGillvray’s handling had to be sure to collect a teasing high kick from Marc Herbert.

It got even better after Ah Van nailed David Hodgson into touch five metres from the Giants line, Paul Sykes burrowing over from dummy half.

The Bulls did not look like a side teetering on the edge of another year of oblivion. Huddersfield had hardly got out of their own half in a one-sided opening quarter.

Potter had promised his team would meet fire with fire and the pack were making their presence felt to knock the Giants out of their stride.

Ah Van’s knock-on at the scrum after 25 minutes was the first home mistake but a couple of ensuing penalties gave Huddersfield their first chance to attack. Larne Patrick was poised to score but Jefferies worked like a trojan to ease the ball loose at the vital moment.

Michael Platt, recalled to the side in the centre, almost got through and Gareth Raynor was squashed in the corner after a flowing seven-man move. But there was no denying Sykes a minute later as he ripped through some flimsy defence for his second score.

Skipper Lynch took a well-earned breather with his team seemingly in complete control. Ah Van’s conversion put the Bulls 16-0 to the good and Huddersfield could do little about it.

And their nightmare got worse on the stroke of half-time as Platt blocked Scott Grix’s kick and gathered for Bradford’s fourth try, Ah Van adding the extras in front of an ectastic crowd.

Nathan Brown sent Huddersfield back out early for the second period and Luke Robinson’s 40-20 put the Bulls under immediate pressure. Odsal old boy Joe Wardle went over for the score but it was wiped out for obstruction.

Then Sykes thought he was in for a hat-trick but Elliott Whitehead’s lay-off was clearly forward.

There was no hint of this lead being blown.

Huddersfield continued to cough up cheap possession, barely managing to complete a full set without an error. It was summed up when Hodgson, normally the safest pair of hands, let a Jeffries kick slither out of his grasp under no pressure at all.

Olivier Elima almost touched down Danny Addy’s kick through but Ah Van still increased the Bulls’ lead with a penalty given for laying on the ball.

Burgess denied the Giants a toe-hold with a bear of a tackle on Dale Ferguson in a rare foray into the home half. Then Ah Van produced tremendous work to run a kick out from under the posts.

The defence had been near-on faultless, particularly from the big men, while the Bulls were still hunting more points of their own.

Sykes, taking over kicking duties after Ah Van felt some tightness in his hamstring, obliged with another two after Darrell Griffin’s high hit on Lynch.

Huddersfield’s frustration boiled over and Eorl Crabtree was sin-binned for persistent infringements.

Unlike the last home game, there was no let-off for the 12 men this time as Ah Van plunged over in the corner from Jeffries’ pass for the Bulls’ fifth try.

It was exhibition time and only the pace of McGillvray sliding to gather behind his posts prevented another score after grubbers from Herbert and Sykes pinned the Giants in dangerous – and familiar – territory.

The relief was only temporary, Herbert picking out Kearney for yet another score. Sykes continued his fine afternoon with a conversion from the touchline.

Huddersfield looked a demoralised bunch as they faced a first shut-out since May 2008.

Sykes ensured there was no late joy with a thundering challenge on Brough to lodge the ball loose – and earn a huge roar from the appreciative fans.

The supporters greeted the hooter with a standing ovation. And why not?

They have not had much to cheer this year. Yesterday was pretty special.