Super League: Bradford Bulls 12-26 Wakefield Trinity

Betfred Super League

Bradford (6) 12

Try: Ryan, Atkin Aim: Hooli 2

Wakefield (10) 26

Try: Johnstone, Tate, Pitts, Rourke, Smith Aim: Rourke d

Wakefield Trinity moved to second in the Super League table but not before a scare against a resolute Bradford Bulls.

Daryl Powell’s title-chasing outfit eventually fell on the edge of a tight fight, clearing 26-12 in the final stages to post their eighth win in their last nine and move within two points of Leeds Rhinos at the Pole.

Tries from Tom Johnstone, Will Tate, Jay Peats, Josh Rourke and Harvey Smith and three goals from the boot of Rourke proved enough for Trinity to keep their noses in front throughout the contest.

Yet it was a victory that was only safely in the kitbag in the final 10 minutes when Smith went on to put clear daylight between the sides.

It was an important win for Powell’s side, even if they had to fight hard against a team with just one win in six and sitting 10 points adrift of a play-off spot.

Trinity will face stiff competition for the home advantage afforded in the playoffs for a top-two finish, and with five of the top seven teams playing their final nine regular season games, each battle is a step closer to victory.

If it wasn’t a vintage performance – and where they spent the longest time of their lives nearing their own finish line – they ultimately won their class.

Johnstone’s early effort, capitalizing on a chaotic start from their hosts, suggested it could be a long night for the Bulls.

But it was to Bradford’s credit that they refused to clean up the Trinity gallop, especially as they had to reshuffle the team after losing influential Logan Lewis to pre-match injury and second-row Dan Russell to an eye socket injury midway through the contest.

Ethan Ryan beat Lachlan Walmsley to equalize on 23 minutes only for the same player to erase his copybook when a high kick was sin-binned for sending Rourke into the air.

A man under Tate with the Bulls headed over for his sixth try of the season and Rourke added the extra to extend the lead to 10-4 which the Bulls cut to two points with a Luke Hooley penalty to make it 10-6 at the break.

The Bulls needed a bright start to the second period but instead a temporary loss to the bearings left the back door open with Wakefield pressing and the Pitts going forward to re-establish a 10-point lead.

The Bulls fought back with a Chris Atkin try converted by Hooley to bring them within one score of the lead.

Bradford could regret three no-try decisions on the field – for all that they were right – and it was after the final one of those, when Jaydon Nikorima was adjudged to have failed to bring it down cleanly, that Trinity finally managed to clear.

A high kick to Caleb Eakins fumbled over the line and charged Rourke for a hand touch on the full Pelte spillage.

Smith added another just before the hooter, winning the game and Bradford’s try.

Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell said:

“I just thought Bradford were great, they really got behind us, but it’s about winning at times when you’re not quite at your best and we did that tonight.

“We dug our way out of it and in the end it was probably a little more uncomfortable than the game.”

Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty said:

“We had a big focus during the week to win back-to-back (games) and try to beat a team in the top six, so we came close.

“It’s a step in the right direction but again, we’ll never lose chivalry and I’m pretty devastated.”

Bradford: Aekins, Wynne, Armitage, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Atkin; Mellor, Akers, Ormondroyd, Russell, Fulton, Sutton.

exchange: Dean, Gardiner, Scarr, Hooley.

Wakefield: Rourke, Walmsley, Scott, Tate, Johnstone, Lawford, Trueman; Tevaga, Vagana, Storton, Lolesio, Smoothy, McKeeken.

exchange: Pitts, Hamlin-Welsh, Fatili, Smith.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths