Vainikolo try frustrates superb Warrington effort

Warrington Wolves 22 Bradford Bulls

Sides do not normally complain about sharing the points with the World Champions, but Warrington were left frustrated last night by only drawing a match they dominated for long periods.

Sides do not normally complain about sharing the points with the World Champions, but Warrington were left frustrated last night by only drawing a match they dominated for long periods.

With Lee Briers' tactical kicking in fine fettle, Warrington applied pressure throughout the first half, even though they had fallen behind when Aaron Smith scored after less than two minutes. Tries for Briers, Richard Varkulis and Brent Grose gave the Wolves an eight-point lead that rather understated their superiority. A second try from Grose put them in a potential winning position soon after the break, but they had not quite broken Bradford's resistance.

Michael Withers levelled the scores with two tries, converted by Paul Deacon. Warrington edged ahead again through Dean Gaskell but a penalty conceded by Danny Lima allowed Bradford to attack as time was running out and Leslie Vainikolo forced his way over. Deacon had the conversion to win the match, but that and Withers' drop goal attempt both drifted wide. For the Wolves to be left with nothing would have been a monumental injustice.

Even Bradford's Brian Noble admitted that winning the game would have amounted to robbery: "But we showed plenty of character," he said.

The Warrington coach Paul Cullen, insisted that: "The positive for us is that a 22-22 draw with Bradford is not good enough." That is the mark of a club setting its sights high.

Warrington Wolves: Hulse; Varkulis, Grose, Westwood, Gaskell; Briers, Wood; Lima, Clarke, Hilton, Noone, Wainwright, Forshaw. Substitutes: Gleeson, Guisset, Stevens, Burns.

Bradford Bulls: Withers; Reardon, Johnson, Hape, Vainikolo; Pryce, Deacon; Vagana, Smith, Fielden, Radford, Peacock, Swann. Substitutes: Bridge, Langley, Parker, Moore.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield)