Wakefield go second with gritty win over Bradford

Betfred Super League

Bradford (6) 12

Tries: Ryan, Atkin Goals: Hooley 2

Wakefield (10) 26

Tries: Johnstone, Tate, Pitts, Rourke, Smith Goals: Rourke 3

Wakefield Trinity moved into second place in the Super League table but not before surviving a scare against tenacious Bradford Bulls.

Daryl Powell’s title-chasing outfit eventually edged a tight encounter, pulling 26-12 clear in the final stages to post an eighth win in their last nine and move to within two points of Leeds Rhinos on pole.

Tries from Tom Johnstone, Will Tate, Jay Pitts, Josh Rourke and Harvey Smith plus three goals from Rourke’s boot proved enough for Trinity to keep their noses in front throughout the contest.

Yet it was a result that was only placed safely in the kitbag in the final 10 minutes when Smith went over to put clear daylight between the sides.

For Bradford it was a fifth defeat in six outings but there were plenty of positives to take from a performance which left them in 11th place, still 10 points off the play-off positions.

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Bradford: Aekins, Wynne, Armitage, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Atkin; Mellor, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Russell, Fulton, Sutton.

Interchanges: Dean, Gardiner, Scurr, Hooley.

Wakefield: Rourke, Walmsley, Scott, Tate, Johnstone, Lawford, Trueman; Tevaga, Vagana, Storton, Lolesio, Smoothy, McKeeken.

Interchanges: Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths