Bradford Bulls...39

Warrington Wolves...22

By MIKE PARSONS

WARRINGTON Wolves brought back the smiles with a brave and gutsy performance that merited their billing as Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-finalists.

What a shame Sunday's performance by the bruised and blood splattered Wolves players was not quite enough to wipe the smiles off the faces of the cocky Bulls who were outplayed for long periods of the game.

'Don't write off the Wolves' was the call, after many pundits had predicted a Bradford landslide victory, going into the club's second successive semi in the competition and Darryl Van de Velde's team certainly rose to the challenge.

There was no lacking in enthusiasm, strong running or stubborn defensive resistance like there had been in recent Super League defeats.

Somehow, coach Darryl Van de Velde - in the space of five days following his return from Australia - had turned the players into a highly competitive and effective unit, restoring some of the pride, belief and faith of all in the Wolves' camp and of their wonderful 2,700 supporters who made the trip.

Tackle for tackle and point for point the Wolves matched Yorkshire's fiercest for 68 minutes.

Players like hooker Dave Highton, loose forward Steve Georgallis and prop Martin Masella put in their best performances to date in a primrose and blue shirt.

Scrum half Allan Langer played his heart out and the other senior professionals Andrew Gee and Tawera Nikau led by example.

Alan Hunte was out of position at full back but did a fine job while in the three quarters Rob Smyth, Ian Sibbit, Toa Kohe-Love and Jamie Stenhouse were competitive throughout.

Forwards Dean Busby, despite spilling blood, Steve McCurrie, Danny Nutley and Jerome Guisset worked their socks off in their spells on the field.

Stand off Lee Briers, despite his tactical kicking not being spot on, was outstanding in most other areas of his play and his three touch downs went a long way towards winning him the man of the match award.

Like in the 2000 semi against Bradford, the Wolves had their much bigger opponents rocking on their heels at stages in the game.

Had a hasty and controversial decision by referee Stuart Cummings not ruled out Nikau's try four minutes into the second half when the scores were 12-12 the game may have taken a different path.

And possibly the decision to go for goal with a 45th minute penalty attempt, against the wishes of skipper Allan Langer and the coach, could have also played a part in Warrington's downfall.

It is all 'ifs and buts' now but it is fact that the Wolves let the Bulls off the hook at crucial times and it gave the holders the chance to fight back and record their astonishing scoring spree in the final quarter of the game.

During an incredible 13-minute spell the Bulls showed how important it is to control possession in Rugby League. In five consecutive sets of tackles the Bulls scored 21 points. A drop goal, three converted tries and a penalty goal were scored in successive raids in a period in which the only time the Wolves touched the ball was through Briers' re-starts from the middle of the field.

Bradford's late points spree brought up a final score which flattered them and stand off Henry Paul's comment 'We whooped them' was cocky beyond belief!

Warrington, backed by fantastic vocals from their barmy army of supporters, conceded the first try.

Winger Michael Withers put the holders 4-0 ahead in the fourth minute after winger Smyth failed to catch Paul Deacon's high kick. H. Paul missed the conversion.

Warrington lost cut forwards Busby and Masella to the blood bin in the ninth minute but the team got on with the job and responded when centre Kohe-Love sucked in three defenders and fired out a superb back-handed pass for Smyth to redeem his earlier mistake and touch down. Briers converted for a 6-4 advantage.

The Wolves were looking to build up the pressure when captain Langer dabbed a little reverse angle kick over the Bulls try line. But better than that the ball carried a wicked bounce which caught out Bulls winger Tevita Vaikona and Briers was ready to pounce for his first try. He was unable to convert from an angle well within his range but the Wolves led 10-4.

Two successive penalties conceded easy territory to Bradford and H. Paul landed the penalty goal.

Nutley pulled off a wonder last ditch tackle that forced Bulls full back Stuart Spruce to knock on with the try line begging.

The Bulls weathered a Warrington storm and younger Paul brother, Robbie, came off the substitute's bench in the 32nd minute and had an immediate impact.

Nikau was on the floor after tackling James Lowes and McCurrie was slow to get back to the defensive line which left a gap. Paul picked up the ball at acting half back, shot through the hole, stepped round full back Alan Hunte and completed his 45m run by planting the ball between the posts. H. Paul converted to give the Bulls a 12-10 cushion.

An off side ruling from a Langer kick presented Briers with a successful penalty attempt from in front of the posts to leave the teams all square at the break.

The Wolves were firing on all cylinders at the start of the second half and were aggressive in defence to force Bradford players into touch.

Nikau touched down from a Langer kick which had deflected off a Bradford player. Referee Stuart Cummings hastily judged Nikau to have been off-side but had he waited and called for the video referee's assistance, as he had done for earlier tries, then he would have found out that Nikau was on side and the try should have stood. The Bulls were let off the hook.

Then a penalty was won and the Wolves elected to shoot for goal from 35m. When Briers missed, and the Wolves fell asleep with Paul finding touch from the drop out, the Bulls had managed to turn a tidal wave.

The Bulls then scored with their first threatening attack of the second half. A short pass from James Lowes allowed second rower Jamie Peacock to crash over. H. Paul added the goal points.

Only three minutes later Briers used Nikau and McCurrie as dummy runners before leaving H. Paul for dead in a race to the line for his superb second try. Briers' conversion again levelled matters at 18-18.

Chances were missed by both sides until H. Paul edged the Bulls ahead with a 69th minute drop goal and it appeared to lift his teammates for their final quarter push.

In the next set of six Wolves winger Stenhouse was hesitant in regathering H. Paul's kick, the ball bounced away from him, Pryce stuck in his foot and edged the ball forward out of the reach of covering Hunte and into the path of Spruce for a clean pick up and touch down. H. Paul's extras gave the Bulls a crucial seven-point lead for the first time in the game.

Prop Paul Anderson returned to the field with refreshed legs and steamrollered through Highton to set up a try for Naylor. H. Paul converted and then added a penalty.

Anderson repeated the dose when he bumped off Masella to eventually put R. Paul over for his second try and complete Bradford's scoring.

Briers completed his hat-trick five minutes into injury time after Highton had kicked ahead from a wasted Bradford pass.

MATCH FACTS

Challenge Cup semi-final, Sunday, April 1, 2001, at McAlpine Stadium

Bradford Bulls...39 Warrington Wolves...22

SCORERS

Bulls: Tries: Withers (4mins), R. Paul (32, 79), Peacock (56), Spruce (71), Naylor (74). Goals: H. Paul 7 (2 pens). Drop goal: H. Paul.

Wolves: Tries: Smyth (10mins), Briers (15, 59, 85). Goals: Briers 3 (1 pen).

SCORING RATE: Wolves first: 0-4, 6-4, 10-4, 10-6, 10-12, 12-12, half-time; 12-18, 18-18, 18-19, 18-25, 18-31, 18-33, 18-39, 22-39.

PENALTIES: Bulls 9 Wolves 6

SCRUMS: Bulls 6 Wolves 12

BULLS: Stuart Spruce; Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Shane Rigon, Michael Withers; Henry Paul, Paul Deacon; Brian McDermott, James Lowes, Joe Vagana, Lee Radford, Jamie Peacock, Mike Forshaw. Subs used: Robbie Paul, Paul Anderson, Stuart Fielden, Leon Pryce.

WOLVES: Alan Hunte; Rob Smyth, Ian Sibbit, Toa Kohe-Love, Jamie Stenhouse; Lee Briers, Allan Langer; Andrew Gee, David Highton, Martin Masella, Dean Busby, Tawera Nikau, Steve Georgallis. Subs used: David Kidwell, Danny Nutley, Steve McCurrie, Jerome Guisset.

REFEREE: Stuart Cummings

ATTENDANCE: 13,856

CONDITIONS: Bright. Pitch, firm.