Happy memories vs Wigan : Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:18 pm  

• Two GFs (and hearing after the 2001 one that Dave Whelan had gone in the changing room before the game to remind the Wigan players to make sure they had their JJB caps on when they went to pick up the trophy).
• Beating them 10-6 in front of 14,000 in 1994 in the first leg of the title decider.
• Coming back from the dead in 2005 with the Withers try.

I wasn't there to see Ellery Hanley get sent off at Odsal, maybe someone can tell us about that one. Otherwise, feel free to expand upon mine or add your own.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:24 pm  

Coming back with 12 men to beat them 20-12 in July (?) '96 in front of 17k plus at Odsal. (I may have got facts from different games mixed up there)

I'd suggest that was the night summer rugby really arrived at Odsal, hard to believe it is knocking on 13 years ago.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:27 pm  

Asim wrote:

Coming back with 12 men to beat them 20-12 in July (?) '96 in front of 17k plus at Odsal. (I may have got facts from different games mixed up there)

I'd suggest that was the night summer rugby really arrived at Odsal, hard to believe it is knocking on 13 years ago.

Facts are spot on. Donagher was the one who walked. It was the week after we beat Stains at Odsal. Think that was the defining week in the rise of the Bulls?

The game the following April when we came from behind to win at Central Park was probably another defining one?

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:33 pm  

Asim wrote:

Coming back with 12 men to beat them 20-12 in July (?) '96 in front of 17k plus at Odsal. (I may have got facts from different games mixed up there)

I'd suggest that was the night summer rugby really arrived at Odsal, hard to believe it is knocking on 13 years ago.

Top night, and id agree with the feeling of summer rugby on that one, it still seemed hot and light well into the evening and the atmosphere was magic. I remember Bernard Dywer scoring a try in the corner late on, but he was only in that position because he was knackered and hadnt got back from the previous set of play!!

My personal favorite though would have to be the 2001 GF as its in my top 3 or 4 Bradford performances of my lifetime. Unstopabull that day.... sorry, i'll get me coat, time for bed...

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:40 pm  

Duckman wrote:

My personal favorite though would have to be the 2001 GF as its in my top 3 or 4 Bradford performances of my lifetime. Unstopabull that day.... sorry, i'll get me coat, time for bed...

Bit hard to argue with that one! That was the one when Naylor barged right through the "world-class" Renouf, right? And the one where Jimmy got us an early penalty by running straight at a marker who was not stood square, then Henry took the penalty from about ten yards in front of where the offence took place...? What a night that was! Might even enter nostalgia mode and dig the video out again...although not so sure thats a good idea given how things stand right now...

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:49 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

Bit hard to argue with that one! That was the one when Naylor barged right through the "world-class" Renouf, right? And the one where Jimmy got us an early penalty by running straight at a marker who was not stood square, then Henry took the penalty from about ten yards in front of where the offence took place...? What a night that was! Might even enter nostalgia mode and dig the video out again...although not so sure thats a good idea given how things stand right now...

yep thats the one, withers first half hat trick, Henry kicking anything in sight. I remember hearing robbie talk about the pre game teamtalk between the players in the dressing room, where they said that people were saying that Bradford only had a plan A, could only play bully boy tactics, etc etc... So the team said if thats what they think, lets give em plenty of plan A tonight and see if they can cope with it (or more inspiring words to that effect that I've since forgotton!). I've never seen a Bradford team hit the ground running like we did that night, Wigan had no chance.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:52 pm  

Bulls 20 Wigan 12 was some game - Simon Haughton's hair-flick getting Jeremy Donougher sent off after about twenty minutes, and twelve nil down largely thanks to Henry Paul. Medders kept us in it, Bernard Dywer's amazing try (we just kept passing it till they ran out of men, even we had 12 and they had 13) levelled it up and then a brace from Jon Scales... dig out the video and hear the roar when he goes over, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Here's a slightly more obscure one - anyone remember Medders dribbling round Steve Hampson soccer-style to score the winner back in the very early 90s. Pretty sure it was on Grandstand, perhaps in the Regal Trophy.

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:58 pm  

The 22-18 win with Matt Calland's late (last minute?) try at Central Park in '97 has to be up there too.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:00 am  

Duckman wrote:

yep thats the one, withers first half hat trick, Henry kicking anything in sight. I remember hearing robbie talk about the pre game teamtalk between the players in the dressing room, where they said that people were saying that Bradford only had a plan A, could only play bully boy tactics, etc etc... So the team said if thats what they think, lets give em plenty of plan A tonight and see if they can cope with it (or more inspiring words to that effect that I've since forgotton!). I've never seen a Bradford team hit the ground running like we did that night, Wigan had no chance.

Harvey Howard dragged off after about fifteen minutes wasn't he? All the talk was how we could only win at Valley Parade because the pitch was so small and you could kick a goal from anywhere, whereas the wide open spaces of Old Trafford would find us out. HP neatly disproved that in the second minute and we were on our way.

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:02 am  

Not really old enough to remember some of the occasions being talked about in the thread at the moment, but 2005 definitely sticks out in my mind. Talk about a turning point.

I remember going to Widnes second game of the season, we were terrible and wondered where our first win was coming from (which doesn't sound too different from a particular season nowadays..!). The Widnes fans were outside the ground singing at our coach "going down, going down!". We ended up winning the GF and they went down!

We looked dead and buried in the Wigan game too, and Withers popped through the line and sealed the win. Weren't we something like 3 scores behind in the last 10?