WOLVES SO NEAR YET SO FAR (From Warrington Guardian)

WOLVES SO NEAR YET SO FAR

Warrington Wolves 14

Bradford Bulls 22

WARRINGTON Wolves gave Bradford the battle of their lives before losing their concentration, and consequently the game, in the final 12 minutes on Sunday.

The Wolves fought back from behind twice to show the Bulls that their Challenge Cup destruction of Warrington last month was a one-off but all of their effort resulted in nothing due to fatal mistakes late on, which came after the Wolves had lost their skipper Danny Farrar through injury.

It was an against-the-odds performance by the Wolves but the players took no pleasure out of coming second best after a fully committed, full-blooded display that once again showed that Darryl Van de Velde's 1999 team is a competitive one.

Few things went Warrington's way. They were without key players Scott Wilson, Danny Nutley and centre/loose forward Jon Roper whereas Bradford were at full strength.

Referee Steve Presley failed to keep the teams on side and it led to a forward orientated game, which favoured Bradford's big pack. The torrential rain in the second period again was of benefit to Bradford's huge forwards.

Despite of all of this, Warrington dug deep, shirked nothing and tackled their hearts out.

The Paul brothers Robbie and Henry were not given the space to work the kind of magic which ripped Warrington apart in the 52-16 cup defeat at Odsal. This cut down the Bulls' attacking options.

Going forward Warrington enjoyed prolonged periods deep inside Bradford territory, specially on the back of some superb Lee Briers '40-20' kicking in the first half, but did not convert good opportunities into points.

It all turned Bradford's way 12 minutes from time while the game was on a 14-14 knife edge. Steve McCurrie attempted to keep the ball alive inside around his own 22 metre area but paid the price by knocking on. Bradford won the scrum and took their chance with David Boyle's converted try more or less sealing the game.

Bradford's first try came after a two-man tackle forced the ball out of Gary Chambers' hand on his 40m mark. Hooker James Lowes dabbed in a short kick for full back Stuart Spruce to beat Mark Forster to the touch down in the seventh minute. Henry Paul missed the conversion.

Soon after the re-start Bradford prop Brian McDermott failed to get to his feet before playing the ball and it gifted Briers a two-point penalty.

After a Warrington drop out, the Bulls sent the ball to the left flank where former Canberra star Boyle supplied the pass for fellow Aussie Michael Withers to take Jason Roach over the line with him. It was 8-2 with 24 minutes on the clock.

Warrington responded with the try of the game. A hefty tackle by Toa Kohe-Love left Spruce rattled and angry and Bradford lost possession 10 yards inside their own half.

Chambers off-loaded to Simon Gillies, who quickly found Briers. The scrum half took on the Bulls defence before releasing centre Alan Hunte. His fast hands sent Forster flying down the touchline with three defenders chasing back. His neat step beat two of them and the third was beaten with a pass inside to the supporting Lee Penny for a super touchdown. Briers' goal levelled it at 8-8 for half-time.

Four minutes into the second period the Bulls regained their lead from a chip kick by Henry Paul. The ball was knocked back by a Bradford player and centre Scott Naylor picked it up off the floor to cross from 20 yards. Paul's outswinging kick looked to have sailed high above the sticks and wide but the touch judges awarded a goal.

Nine minutes later Briers tried the kind of bomb kick that had brought tries for Hunte in the last two matches. Bradford were ready for it with Tevita Vaikona and Naylor obstructing Hunte from climbing for the ball. Justice was done when the ball bounced into the hands of Forster for the simplest of touch downs. Briers' goal equalled the scores again at 14-14.

Four minutes later the Wolves lost their skipper Danny Farrar with a bang to his head. It left stand off John Duffy switching to hooker, centre Kohe-Love moving to stand off and substitute Dean Hanger stepping into the centres.

After the reshuffle Warrington had two attacks in which drop goal options could have been taken but they went for tries instead and came up with nothing.

Boyle crossed for his converted try that took Bradford on to 20-14 but there was still 12 minutes for Warrington to pull it back.

Briers kicked straight into touch from the re-start to put his team under pressure again. Warrington were penalised for ball stealing and Paul's penalty goal took the Bulls beyond reach at 22-14.

Wolves full back Lee Penny, impressive against the Bulls, is sandwiched by Stuart Spruce and Henry Paul.

Prop Gary Chambers, who played with a busted left knee on Sunday, is collared by Bradford hooker James Lowes.Picture: MIKE BODEN

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.