WARRINGTON Wolves indifferent start to the season continued as they were beaten 34-28 at bottom of the league Bradford Bulls.
The win lifted the bulls, who were deducted six points at the start of the season after going into administration, off the bottom of the table as the Wolves suffered their sixth league defeat in eleven games.
Warrington, still missing a number of key players including Ben Westwood, Paul Wood, Simon Grix, Stefan Ratchford and Richie Myler, actually led 22-16 at the break but the day belonged to Bradford, who overcame the loss of full-back Brett Kearney in the first half to register only their third Super League win of the campaign.
Wolves prop Anthony England (pictured right) opened the scoring with his first Super League try but the Bulls responded immediately when Jamie Foster, a late replacement for Luke George, touched down in the corner and then took the lead when Kearney ran in from 70 metres.
But Warrington hit back as Chris Bridge converted his own try to open up a two-point lead and that advantage was extended when Ryan Atkins and Joel Monaghan set up Kevin Penny.
It was the winger’s first try in Super League since crossing for Wakefield in a victory at Catalan Dragons in February 2011.
But the hosts stayed in touch and reduced the deficit again when Tom Olbison collected Luke Gale’s pass to cross, only for Monaghan to ease his way over from close range to give the visitors a six-point lead at half-time.
After the break Adrian Purtell grounded Lee Gaskell’s kick to level at 22-22 and, after Warrington took the lead again with a fine individual try from Scotland full-back Matty Russell but then Elliot Kear’s try brought the Bulls within two points again, with nine minutes remaining.
Purtell scored his second try after good work from Danny Addy to give the Bulls a crucial lead, which they increased when Foster kicked a late penalty to clinch a win that lifted the Bulls off the foot of the table.
Try scorer Chris Bridge
Try scorer Joel Monaghan
Try scorer Matty Russell
Bradford: Gaskell; Kear, Arundel, Henry, Foster; Kearney, Gale; Kaufusi, Diskin, Sidlow, Purtell, Pitts, Addy.
Subs: Olbison, O’Brien, Mellor, Bates.
Warrington: Russell; J. Monaghan, R. Evans, Atkins, Penny; Bridge, O’Brien; Hill, M. Monaghan, England, Waterhouse, Laithwaite, B. Evans.
Subs: Asotasi, Harrison, Currie, Higham.
Attendance: 6,173.
