Bradford Bulls 40 Wakefield Trinity 18: Bradford remember their lines with prize victory

Bradford Bulls may not win any awards this season but the Super League club has already played its part in scooping one of the world’s most prestigious trophies.

For scenes from the British film, The King’s Speech were shot at the club’s historic Odsal Stadium – which doubled as Wembley Stadium – back in November 2009 helping Colin Firth and co to clean up at Hollywood’s Oscars movie awards.

Bulls chairman Peter Hood – speaking before yesterday’s derby win over struggling Wakefield – said the club benefitted in being chosen as a filming location in more ways than one.

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Hood said: “Apart from its many awards, it was a triumph for the independent financing of British cinema.

“At Bradford Bulls we played a small part in the film’s success – the opening shot where the King addresses the massed ranks of the military at Wembley Stadium was filmed here, at Odsal Stadium.

“Apart from helping us generate worthwhile non-gameday revenue, the 500 tonnes of ‘muck’ spread around is doing wonders for our field this year.”

While yesterday’s Super League game was hardly a classic it was a welcome two points for Mick Potter’s team.

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No Firth here or a worldwide audience of millions, but man of the match was hat-trick hero Craig Kopczak in front of 12,835 true Yorkshire folk.

Bulls were missing a host of first-team players including Dave Halley, James Donaldson, Heath L’Estrange, Chev Walker and Jamie Langley through injury.

But there was one piece of good news with new half-back signing Marc Herbert making his Bradford debut after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Wakefield made the perfect start to silence the Odsal crowd when Frankie Mariano charged over after just four minutes. Josh Veivers converted.

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It had been an encouraging start for Trinity – who had meekly surrendered to Salford last week – but parity was restored five minutes later with a try which was the perfect example of turning defence into attack.

Bradford raced from one end of the field to the other, with good work from Gareth Raynor, before Tom Olbison spotted a gap and dived over. Patrick Al Van levelled with his conversion at 6-6.

Elliott Whitehead just failed to ground Matt Diskin’s dinked kick as Bulls applied the pressure, while at the other end first Arron Murphy, then Kevin Penny were held up just short of the line.

Former Halifax player Shad Royston edged the Bulls in front when he profited from a swift break by Ah Van, who also added the extras to make it 12-6.

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Glenn Morrison had been given an enthusiastic welcome back to Odsal by the home crowd before kick-off, yet it appeared he had repaid that greeting with a try against his former employers.

He charged down the centre to score under the posts but referee Robert Hicks silenced the celebrating Trinity fans on the terraces when he ruled out the ‘try’ judging Morrison had dropped the ball.

And it only got worse for Wakefield as they conceded twice in quick succession. New Bulls signing Herbert, the 24-year-old captured from Canberra Raiders in the winter, was still shaking his head after being hammered by some fierce Trinity tackling, when Craig Kopczak sneaked over for a try.

Then Danny Addy delivered a beautiful off-load to send in Kopczak for his second try, Ah Van converting both to stretch Bradford’s lead to 24-6 at half-time.

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Trinity coach John Kear would have been left scratching his head at why the visitors did not trouble the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes after the restart.

Time and again they hammered the Bulls defence, but could not break some gritty tackling.

When Trinity did opt for a chip over the top, Bulls winger Shaun Ainscough delivered a stunning dive to pounce on the ball and avert the danger.

As so often happens when you fail to take your chances, the opposition come up with a sucker punch and so it proved again.

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Luke George gifted possession when he coughed up the ball and Bradford eventually punished that error as Royston pounced for his second try of the afternoon. Ah Van converted.

George made amends for his error when replying with a Trinity try. But it was harsh on Gareth Raynor who chased Josh Griffin the length of the field in a seemingly lost cause, only to haul him down just short of the line. George though was on hand to inch his way over.

Ainscough then helped himself to a try for the hosts after a lofted kick caused confusion, the only surprise coming when Ah Van spoiled his 100 per cent kicking record when he missed the conversion.

Kopczak then nabbed his hat-trick under the posts after great approach play from Diskin, Ah Van kicking the extras to make it 40-12.

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Kieran Hyde nipped over on the hooter for Wakefield, Veivers converting, but it could not detract from an impressive Bulls display.

Bradford: Royston, Raynor, Ah Van, Platt, Ainscough, Kearney, Herbert, Lynch, Diskin, Hargreaves, Olbison, Whitehead, Elima. Substitutes: Scruton, Sibbit, Kopczak, Addy.

Wakefield: Veivers, Penny, Murphy, Griffin, George, Hyde, Lee, Korkidas, Rinaldi, Johnson, Mariano, Morrison, Howarth. Substitutes: Gledhill, Davey, Amor, Henderson. Referee: R Hicks (RFL).