Round 4
Wigan Warriors 28 d. Bradford Bulls 14

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Broken arm confirmed for Vagana
Sun March 2, 2008
Bradford Bulls have today confirmed that prop forward Joe Vagana broke his arm in the game against Wigan and will be out for a minimum of six weeks.

Vagana, who has missed only ten games in his seven years with the club, suffered the injury in the first tackle of the second half in the game at the JJB. He had to leave the field and an X-Ray late last night confirmed the Bulls worst fears.

The Bulls lost 28-14 against Wigan last night, which was their 3rd loss in four Super League outings this season.


Wigan continue impressive home form
Sun March 2, 2008
Source: www.wiganwarriors.com

Wigan Warriors made it three wins from their four opening games of the season with a 28-14 victory over the Bradford Bulls at the JJB Stadium on a damp Saturday evening.

The Warriors have continued where they left off 2007 with impressive form at home, their last loss at the JJB, ten games ago in the middle of last year against Hull KR, who incidentally are the next visitors to Wigan over Easter.

The home side turned around an 0-8 deficit to win the game by fourteen points. Five Wigan tries in total through Carmont, Goulding, Richards, Tomkins and Hansen while Richards hit three conversions and a penalty.

Wigan were without the suspended Phil Bailey so Gareth Hock moved up off the bench to start. On the bench was prop Stuart Fielden fit again, after a bicep injury, his first run out of 2008.

It was Wigan who were forced into some early defending as the Bulls pressed for the first score. It came with six minutes on the clock, a penalty for offside, Deacon with a simple kick to make it 0-2.

Referee Richard Silverwood was caning Wigan with penalties to the Bulls and sent Thomas Leuluai into the sin bin with ten minutes on the clock for what was adjudged persistent offside. From a quick tap, the Warriors were caught as Wayne Godwin sneaked over for the first try of the game; Deacon added the extras, 0-8.

Wigan responded a Barrett grubber kick was pounced on by George Carmont for a touchdown on 14 minutes; the try went to the video referee and was give benefit of the doubt. Richards struck the goal, 6-8.

Wigan drew level on 27 minutes, a Richards penalty, 8-8.

Bull's second rower Glenn Morrison was the next to be shown a yellow card with seven minutes of the half remaining and spent ten minutes on the sidelines, Morrison had been penalised before for lying on.

With three minutes of the half left Wigan opened up the Bulls down the middle courtesy of a clever dummy by Gareth Hock. He had Mathers in support who was held 20 metres short. Wigan worked it quickly to the left, Barrett with the pass to send in Darrell Goulding for the cherry and whites second try out wide. Richards goal was just hit to the right of the sticks, 12-8.

Just five minutes after the interval and Brian Noble's side extended their lead. Goulding with an initial break from a Hock pass and it looked as if the chance had gone as he failed to see Colbon on his outside. From the play the ball, Barrett with a superb high cross field kick which Pat Richards plucked out of the sky away from James Evans for the try. The winger himself converted to make it 18-8.

Bradford got back into it with a Chris Feather try and Deacon goal, 18-14 the score approaching the mid way point of the second half.

A mistake by Michael Platt on the greasy surface allowed the ball to fall nicely though into the path of Joel Tomkins for Wigan's fourth try of the night, Richards was spot on once more with the goal, the home side with a ten point advantage with 15 minutes remaining.

Wigan finished the stronger with a fifth try in the dying moments through Harrison Hansen in the corner, the conversion was missed and it ended 28-14.

Bradford never threatened a way back into it and it was another hard earned two Super League points for Brian Noble's side as they now face three trips on the road to Warrington, Huddersfield and St Helens.

Wigan Warriors 28
Tries: Carmont, Goulding, Richards, Tomkins, Hansen
Goals: Richards (4)

Team: Richard Mathers, Liam Colbon, Darrell Goulding, George Carmont, Pat Richards, Trent Barrett, Thomas Leuluai, Andy Coley, Mickey Higham, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Gareth Hock, Harrison Hansen, Sean O'Loughlin. Subs: Stuart Fielden, Paul Prescott, Michael McIlorum, Joel Tomkins.

Bradford Bulls 14
Tries: Godwin, Feather
Goals: Deacon (3)

Team: Michael Platt, James Evans, Paul Sykes, Shontayne Hape, Semi Tadulala, Ben Jeffries, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Wayne Godwin, Andy Lynch, Glenn Morrison, Jamie Langley, Sam Burgess. Subs: Chris Feather, Chris Nero, Iestyn Harris, Simon Finnigan.

Referee - Richard Silverwood

Attendance - 15,444

Report source: www.wiganwarriors.com

Article: Noble on Bradford win

Sat March 1, 2008
• Bulls Eye: Bradford v Wigan
  

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