Neat Eagles extend winning sequence

Sheffield Eagles 19 Bradford Bulls 10

The longest winning sequence in the Stones Centenary Championship was stretched to nine games as Sheffield Eagles saw off the last team to beat them in any competition, writes Dave Hadfield.

Bradford inflicted defeat on the Eagles in the Regal Trophy in November, but, despite two late tries, they never looked capable of halting the Sheffield run at the Don Valley Stadium last night.

The Eagles, playing the neat, controlled rugby that has been the hallmark of their record-breaking run, were in charge from the start and it was a little surprising that it took them until the 16th minute to score their first try, thanks to the strength of Ian Hughes.

A brilliant break from their hooker, John Lawless, set up Bright Sodje for the second and when David Mycoe, who also succeeded with three place- kicks, dropped a goal early in the second half, the Bulls were firmly tethered.

It was a former Bradford player swept out as part of Brian Smith's wholesale reconstruction of the club who made Sheffield's lead even more commanding. The ex-Great Britain forward, Paul Dixon, took an exquisite pass from Ryan Sheridan, who formed a lively and creative half-back combination with Mycoe, to charge over for his second try for his new club.

Bradford gave a debut appearance off the bench to their two new Australians, Graeme Bradley and Jeremy Donougher, and it was the imposing Donougher, soon after his arrival, who was largely responsible for their first points, driving to the line for Jason Donohue to dart over.

Paul Cook, another of Smith's numerous new signings for the Bulls, landed the conversion and crossed for a try to give the scoreline a more respectable look in the last minutes.

But Bradford had never posed a serious threat to Sheffield's remarkable winning sequence. They have frittered away far too much possession and it will take a side with more punch in attack than they showed last night to ground the Eagles, who are now level on points, with St Helens and Halifax, on the verge of a top four place.

Sheffield Eagles: Gamson; Dakuitoga, Price, Garcia, Sodje; Mycoe, Sheridan; Broadbent (yasa, 74), Lawless, McAllister (Dixon, 31) Carr (Hay, 55), Hughes (Senior, 77), M Cook.

Bradford Bulls: Graham; Christie (Longo, 39), Hassan (Bradley, 25), Loughlin, P Cook; Summers, Paul; Ireland (Hamer, 50; Donougher, 54), Donohue, Fairbank, McDermott, Nickle, Dwyer.

Referee: J Connolly (Wigan).