Deacon's boot leaves Wigan blue

Bradford 32 Wigan 14

If Wigan are to win Super League they will have to do it the hard way after this defeat at Valley Parade consigned them to third place going into the play-offs.

Bradford made sure of finishing in the top two and thus getting a welcome week off at the start of the play-offs with a convincing performance highlighted by fierce defence to deny Wigan a way back in the second half.

Wigan showed how much the prospect of squeezing into second place in Super League still appeals to them by including their captain, Andy Farrell, after it looked likely all week he would miss out with a thigh injury. Nor did the Bulls appear to be holding anything back, bringing Tevita Vaikona back into the side and promoting Robbie Paul to the starting line-up.

Both sides showed fierce commitment in the first half, though Bradford had the better of it. Two penalties from Paul Deacon got them moving, but Julian O'Neill pegged one back for Wigan before the visitors scored the first try of the night, Kris Radlinski running on to a perfectly timed pass from Terry Newton.

The first Bradford try had an element of luck but it put the Bulls back ahead, Deacon's kick rebounding for Daniel Gartner, who got the ball out of the tackle for Michael Withers to touch down.

That ushered in a spell when Bradford took charge, Deacon landing a fourth goal and Stuart Fielden claiming their second try, again with the help of a Wigan slip. Robbie Paul's kick was not particularly dangerous but Gary Connolly knocked it down behind his try-line for Fielden to swoop.

Adrian Lam brought Wigan back into it with a superbly delayed pass to send Radlinski through a gap for his second try. Bradford replied by piling on the pressure again, Paul Anderson getting over the line only to be penalised for a double movement. There was to be no reprieve, however – when Farrell lost the ball in a tackle, Lesley Vainikolo forced his way over in the corner.

That try looked even more significant, when, eight minutes after the break, Paul got his pass to Withers, who took advantage of a slow defence to dart over for his second try.

Wigan enjoyed plenty of possession after that but the Bradford tackling was flawless. With the result already beyond doubt Harvey Howard was penalised for a high tackle on Fielden and Deacon rounded off a happy night.

Bradford: Withers; Vaikona, Naylor, Costin, Vainikolo; Paul, Deacon; Vagana, Lowes, Fielden, Gartner, Peacock, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Pryce, Anderson, McDermott, Gilmore.

Wigan: Radlinski; Carney, Connolly, Hodgson, Ainscough; O'Neill, Lam; O'Connor, Newton, C Smith, Cassidy, Tickle, Farrell. Substitutes used: Howard, O'Loughlin, M Smith, Sculthorpe.

Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).