VIDEO - Wakefield 48 Bradford 18: Lowes will not throw in towel after gulf is exposed

Just 25 minutes into their second Qualifiers fixture, at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Bradford were 30-0 behind and effectively out of the contest.

Bradford finished second in the Kingstone Press Championship, winning 18 and drawing one of their 24 league matches.

Wakefield were 11 points adrift at the foot of First Utility Super League, with just three victories under their belt and only one of those coming in their final 21 games.

But the gulf in class between the second tier and Super League was rammed home as Wakefield put their visitors to the sword. The home team were faster and more organised in everything they did and but for some wayward finishing they could have won far more convincingly than 48-18.

Bradford had no answer to the strong running of Wakefield’s pack, or the scheming that half-backs Jacob Miller and Tim Smith were allowed to do in acres of space.

Bradford had a good spell either side of half-time, when they ran in two of their three tries, but they never looked like getting close to a Wakefield team who grew in confidence as the game went on.

It was the second time Bradford have faced Super League opposition this year, following a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie at home to Hull KR – another team they will face in the Qualifiers – and so far they have scored 48 points, but conceded 98.

Worrying statistics, but coach James Lowes is not ready to throw in the towel.

“We were terrible in the first half,” he conceded. “We did some stuff in the second half and got in a position where potentially we could challenge them. We were one pass away from potentially going on and challenging Wakefield.

“There’s no change of philosophies at all, but the stuff we talked about doing, we didn’t do in the first half. We never delivered, which allowed Tim Smith to play in a dinner jacket and when he does that, he does what he does there.

“We started the second half pretty good, scored a try and potentially could have scored another and who knows? But the whole world doesn’t crumble on 40 minutes there.”

But Lowes admitted Bradford will have to be better to qualify for the fourth versus fifth, £1m match, which is their best realistic chance of going up.

He said: “We were rubbish in the first half and you can’t get away with that sort of stuff in this competition. You can at Championship level. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I am not giving up on these players. There were signs of what we can do, but if we don’t do what we’re supposed to, the result against a Super League club is you get picked off.”

Bradford lost stand-off Lee Gaskell in the first half after he was hurt trying to prevent the hosts’ second try. Matt Ryan went off with an elbow/shoulder injury late on. Wakefield also suffered a huge injury setback, having winger Richard Owen stretchered off in the second half with a double fracture of a leg. Owen, who was two games into his comeback after voluntarily entering a rehabilitation program with the Sporting Chance clinic, broke his other leg in similar fashion playing for Castleford Tigers against Bradford five years ago.

“I am a bit sombre about it because of that,” said coach Brian Smith. “If there are footy gods, they lack compassion. He has had a lot to handle, that lad.

“He is quite an infectious personality. He’s a fun guy to be around. He has had some battles and there’ll be a heap of people who’ll want to help him in this one. He’ll get back.”

Lee Smith kicked seven goals for Wakefield and scored one of their first-half tries, with Jon Molloy, Michael Sio, Mickael Simon and Nick Scruton getting the others.

Adrian Purtell and Dale Ferguson responded, making it 30-12, but Smith’s penalty and two more conversions, tries by Reece Lyne, Matty Ashurst and Miller and Joe Arundel’s goal ended the fightback, before James Clare scored a consolation and Danny Addy added his third conversion.

“Our guys are trying to develop some pride and respect,” said Smith.

“We certainly put our foot forward in the right direction and now we need to do that again on Saturday against another dangerous team in Leigh.

“We’ve got a bit of confidence out of this, but we’ve got way more to do yet.”

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: L Smith, Owen, Tupou, Arundel, Lyne, Miller, T Smith, Scruton, Sio, Anderson, Ashurst, Molloy, Simon. Substitutes (all used): Washbrook, Godinet, Walker, Mullally.

Bradford Bulls: Clare, Williams, Purtell, Blythe, Caro, Gaskell, Addy, Clough, O’Brien. Sidlow, Olbison, Ferguson, Pitts. Substitutes (all used): Ryan, Lauaki, Crossley, Siejka.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).