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

A GUTSY and fully committed Warrington Wolves team gave it their best shot in Sunday's Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final at the McAlpine Stadium.

The Wolves were level pegging 18-18 until the 69th minute when an astonishing Bulls blitz inspired by man mountain prop forward Paul Anderson steered the Yorkshiremen to the Twickenham final.

In a 13-minute purple patch, in which the Wolves only touched the ball in order to re-start the game, Bradford piled on 21 points and the Wolves' dream was over.

The Wolves did not throw the towel in and man of the match Lee Briers touched down for his hat-trick try with the final play of the game.

Warrington, backed by fantastic vocals from their barmy army of supporters, matched the Bulls tackle for tackle and point for point in a pulsating opening 40 minutes.

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

The Wolves responded when a superb back-handed pass by centre Toa Kohe-Love allowed Smyth to redeem his earlier mistake and touch down. Briers converted for a 6-4 advantage.

A Langer grubber kick foiled the Bulls defence and Briers pounced for the touch to make it 10-4 with 15 minutes gone.

Paul banged over a penalty goal to reduce the deficit to 10-6.

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

He picked up the ball at acting half back, shot through a gaping hole in the defensive line, stepped round full back Alan Hunte and completed his 45m run by planting the ball between the posts. Henry Paul converted to give the Bulls a 12-10 cushion.

An obstruction on Allan Langer after a kick presented Briers with a successful penalty attempt from in front of the posts to leave the teams all square at the break.

Four minutes into the second period Tawera Nikau had a try ruled out for off side from a kick to let the Bulls off the hook.

After soaking up tremendous Wolves pressure the Bulls scored with their first threatening attack of the second half. A short pass from James Lowes allowed second rower Jamie Peacock to crash over. Henry Paul added the goal points.

Only three minutes later Briers used Tawera Nikau and Steve McCurrie as dummy runners before leaving Henry Paul for dead in a race to the line. His conversion again levelled matters at 18-18.

A Brian McDermott try for Bradford was ruled out after a knock on had been spotted in the build-up.

Henry Paul edged the Bulls ahead with a 69th minute drop goal and it appeared to lift his teammates for their final quarter push.

There was little the Wolves could do as the Bulls turned up the power and scored in four consecutive raids at the Wolves line. It included three converted tries through Stuart Spruce, Scott Naylor and Robbie Paul while Henry Paul also banged over a penalty as the game was sealed.

The Bulls will play St. Helens in the final on April 28.

MATCH FACTS

Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final Sunday, April 1, 2001 At McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield

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.