Bradford made to struggle by Wakefield

Bradford 36 Wakefield Trinity 18

Super League got back down to business at Odsal last night with most followers of the game still reeling from the humiliation in Sydney as the leaders, Bradford, made heavy weather of despatching the bottom club, Wakefield.

The Bulls were without three players and coach Brian Noble on Test duty while Paul Deacon and Brandon Costin joined Paul Anderson on the injured list and James Lowes went off with a knee injury after 28 minutes. They struggled for fluency against a Wakefield side that belied their recent poor run of just one win from their previous 11 games.

A 50-metre try by Lesley Vainikolo and a second from Michael Withers, plus three Withers goals, saw the Bulls into a 14-0 lead, but Wakefield fought back with great spirit. Deon Bird's incisive break laid on a try for Martin Moana and David March's slick pass saw Kris Tassell fly in at the corner with two conversions from Brad Davis hauling the visitors back into the game.

Wakefield almost went ahead two minutes after the re-start, but Neil Law had claims for a try ruled out for a knock-on. The champions began to breathe a little easier after a break by Mike Forshaw created an opening for Daniel Gartner, Withers converting. Still Wakefield dominated possession and it was no more than they deserved when Moana cut through to score his second try just before the hour, Davis converting.

Wakefield still had visions of a shock win until Paul broke their hearts, creating the decisive try for Forshaw with eight minutes remaining. Further tries by Scott Naylor and Nathan McAvoy were tough on a heroic Wakefield effort.

Bradford: Withers; Vaikona, Naylor, McAvoy, Vainikolo; Pryce, Paul; Vagana, Lowes, McDermott, Gartner, Radford, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Langley, Parker, Moore.

Wakefield: Holland; Frew, Tassell, Hassan, N Law; Moana, Davis; Keating, March, Jackson, Slattery, Ellis, Bird. Substitutes used: Broadbent, Field, Feather, Rinaldi.

Referee: R Connolly (Wigan).

* Leeds lost their fourth game out of five last night as Castleford won at Headingley for the first time in Super League, 32-24. The Tigers took command early, leading 22-6 at half-time against a side with five regulars in Australia with Great Britain.