Dragon Slayed

BULLieve

25^TH March 2013

 

Welcome to your weekly edition of BULLieve.

This week has been a quiet week for news so, not much to report on. The academy game was called off earlier this week due to a very wet pitch. Stark contrast to the pitch now which is covered in snow.

The Bulls merchandise is now in stock after a delivery from ISC. The stock, now consists of polo tops, vests, Hoodies and coats. Both home and away shirts are in stock and range from babies up to adult shirts and much more in store. The shop opening hours are as follows,

Monday to Friday 0930 – 1700 with Saturdays 0930-1400. Sundays the shop is usually closed unless we are playing at home. If we have a home game the shop is open form when the turnstiles are open up to kick off then for 1 hour after the game has finished.

Friday should have been the Bulls quiz night in the coral stand. Due to the torrid weather we are experiencing at the moment the event had to be cancelled. Details on the re arranged event will be released soon.

The 1^st team squad nearly didn’t make it to Perpignan to face the Catalan Dragons. The lads were delayed at Leeds Bradford airport due to snow being cleared from the runway and the plane’s wings had to be de-iced.

Luckily the lads got on the plane and made the journey, along with Omar Khan, Vipin Joshi, Ian Greenwood and Gerry Sutcliffe.

We also took along a number of fans and made ourselves heard and seen.

The game started very well with both teams battling it out with strength and skill. This tactic worked well for the Bulls who took the lead through Elliot Kear then John Bateman. With Catalans responding through Julian Bousquet. Half time score Catalan Dragons 6 Bradford Bulls 10.

The second half was a real tough battle for 20 minutes as, at the hour mark the Bulls still lead. But then the Catalan power and quality shone through. Catalan score 24 unanswered points through Louis Anderson, Morgan Escare, Daryl Millard, Zeb Taia and Leon Pryce. Final score Catalan Dragons 30 Bradford Bulls 10.After the match Francis Cummins had this to say,

"In the second half they had a lot of double sets and they scored off the back of them. We didn't see the ball. We showed in the first half that, if you have good ball, you can test the Catalans but those double sets really took it out of us in the second half because we only had three props. We started to chase the game and force the ball and that makes it a really tough game to play."

 

Due to the weather conditions the team and staff and fans were delayed in arriving back in England. Thankfully, after a very lengthy delay in Barcelona, the team and staff arrived back in England safe and well last night.

Although we lost to a good, strong Catalan side let’s not be too downbeat. This week see’s the first OK Bulls Derby Day with the Leeds Rhino’s at Headingley. This game will also be live on sky with an 8pm kick off. Supporters who cannot make it for whatever reason are invited to the Coral stand where the game will be shown on the big screen and food will be available. If you are attending, you are advised to arrive early to get the best seats.

Those of you who are travelling to Headingley, let’s carry on the super vocal support and cheer the lads on to victory.

The RFL has selected the Match Officials for the games over the Easter period.

 Phil Bentham will Referee Thursday's game at Headingley Carnegie. He will assisted by Touch Judges Tony Martin and Joseph Cobb.

 The Match Commissioner will be David Milburn and the Video Referee is Ian Smith.

 For the Easter Monday game against Salford City Reds, Tim the worst ref Roby will be the Referee and he will be assisted by Touch Judges Peter Grundhill and Gareth Jones.

 The Match Commissioner is Steve Cross.

The home game at the Provident Stadium against the Salford City Reds is a 3pm kick off.

 

Events taking place at the Provident Stadium this week.

This week we have a few things happening at the Provident Stadium. Firstly on Friday we have the much anticipated Real Ale day.

 Friday 29^TH March

 From 12 noon, there will be 3 hand-pulled real ales on sale from the Saltaire brewery, along with a selection of bottled beers to either drink there or take home.  The ales on offer are the Blonde at 4%, the Cascade at 4.8% and the Cream Stout at 4%.  As there is only room in the cellar for 6 barrels, when it's gone, it's gone!

 Food will be available too in the form of an Asian platter with salad, for £3.50 with a vegetarian option also. On the large screen there will be live SL action from Wigan v St Helens KO 12:15. Following the game, videos of the Bulls Grand Final and World Club Championship wins will also be screened. This event is free entry.

 

 Saturday 30^TH March

 The eagerly anticipated Ultimate Adele tribute act.

The evening will start at 7:30pm and will finish at 1am.

Ticket prices are £19.95 per person and includes a 3 course meal. There will also be a house band playing.

To top the Easter weekend off we have our very own,

 EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Easter Sunday 31st March 2013, 12-4pm

Craft Stalls, Carvery, Easter egg Hunt, Face Painting, Raffle, tombola, Pass the Easter Egg, Craft Area, Easter Bonnet Competition, Cakes & Bun Stall, Team Taurus. Some players will be in attendance along with Bullboy. Come along with all the family and enjoy a fun filled day. Entry is free of charge.

 Monday 1st April.

 Dine in the Legends Suite for only £18.50 at the Bulls v Salford game.

As a thank you for your continued support, this offer is open to all season ticket holders only.

Do you know anyone who is getting married? The coral stand is available for hire for your wedding. Any weddings can take place, Asian, English and more. Please visit the website for more details.

The Coral stand has many uses, from business meetings to birthday parties and so much more. The stand is open from 11am to 11pm daily (except match days) with food and drink available to all. Why not pop in sometime if you are visiting the shop or purchasing tickets?

Thank you once again for reading your Official Bradford Bulls BULLieve.

Have a safe week and wrap up warm especially if you are joining us at Headingley on Thursday.

Take care and, until next time don’t stop BULLieving.

 Article written by Jay Leeming.

Robin Beaters

BULLieve

18^Th March 2013

Welcome to another edition of your weekly Bradford Bulls article by a fan, for the fans.

This week has been a super week for Adrian Purtell. Adrian suffered a heart attack on the bus home from the game against Leeds Rhino’s at the Etihad stadium on magic weekend last year.

Since then, Adrian has had to stop his playing career and undergo numerous tests on his heart to see what, if any damage had been done. Thankfully this week Adrian has been given the all clear by heart specialists in London. Adrian who is now the ambassador for heart research UK Travelled to London with team physio Dan Ramsden on Wednesday to receive the fantastic news.

Adrian is a true inspiration to all sports men and women out there and we would like to wish him well resuming his playing career.

During the week the rugby league world cup came to Bradford. The cup was on show at tong upper school and in attendance was the Bulls foundation and a couple of good friends I know. Up and coming rugby player James Hall was pictured with the cup. James, who plays hooker for Bradford Dudley Hill is also an avid Bradford Bulls fan.

Also pictured was our very own Gill Johnson from the Bulls wheelchair rugby league team looking very proud indeed.

The Bulls squad undertook a team bonding exercise this week and had a morning go karting. The lads really enjoyed the karting and were very competitive. The bonding session was a complete success and, due to a forfeit Jamie Foster had to buy 25 coffees.

This week is a big week for horse racing. It’s Cheltenham and the lads didn’t exactly get off to the best start. Luke Gale told everyone at training to bet on a dead certain and they did. So the lads piled into the betting shop to see if the horse would win and, it didn’t. Despite this, some of the lads went to the races and enjoyed the day out.

This week I have the “spotlight “section” and, this week I have been fortunate to speak to the founder of the Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby League Club Gill Johnson.

Gill and her husband Richard are avid Bulls supporters and you will have all seen them at a game at some point. Gill, who is disabled is a season ticket holder and has supported the Bulls for quite a number of years.

I asked Gill to give me some information regarding the club and here it is.

The Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby League Club was formed in 2009 after 2 of the team’s founder members, Richard and Gill Johnson, returned from Australia in 2008 with the very first Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup held in Sydney, Australia. Gill was the England Team Manager and Richard was England’s Match Official for that tour. 

Both Gill and Richard have been Bradford Bulls fans for many years but when Gill became a wheelchair user they began to see problems and decided to do something about it. They got together with other disabled Rugby League fans and formed the RLDSA, the Rugby League Disabled Supporters Association which has for 6 years worked with Rugby League Clubs, the Rugby Football League and disabled Rugby League spectators to improve access and promote inclusion throughout the game. It was while Gill was Chairperson of the RLDSA that both Richard and Gill first saw Wheelchair Rugby League and thought that this was badly needed in our game so that wheelchair users could also play and do so on a level playing field.

Club timeline.

2006 – Saw game for first time.

2007 – BWTRLA was formed and first official England v France Test Match was played.

2008 – August – England v France Test Match and told they were going to Australia for World Cup.

2008 – October – Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

2009 – Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby League Club formed.

 2010 – Gained Club Mark accreditation

2011 – Club finished second in the Championship League and won the Championship Finals in their first competitive season.

2012 - The club finished the season top of our league but just missed out on the Grand Final.

Inspired by the great World Cup success and now retired from their duties with the RLDSA and developing the game nationally they both wanted to see this uniquely inclusive sport played in Bradford, their home town. They were both shocked to find that there were no competitive sports in Bradford if you were a wheelchair user, there were sports for people with other disabilities but wheelchairs seemed to be a problem. Joined by some fellow Bull’s fans, players and player’s families and also supported by the Bradford Bulls RLFC themselves the Bradford Bulls Amateur Wheelchair Tag Rugby League Club was born. 

Both Gill and Richard are still involved with the Club today, Gill is now the Club Manager and Welfare Officer and Richard is the Coach, they have with help from many people built a Wheelchair Tag Rugby League Club which was the first to be formally adopted by a professional Super League Club and also the first to gain Club Mark accreditation so that parents and players know we are a quality Club.

As a Club the Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby League Club is proud to now have a partnership with the Bradford Bulls Foundation, they are helping us develop a community coaching package so that we can keep doing the work that we do and we have a busy year ahead.

Last year the club had been nominated for a National Diversity Award, they made a short list of 3 from 8000 other organisations so although they were runners up that was still a great achievement.

Gill is also running an appeal named The Wheels 4 Wheels appeal. This is to raise much needed cash to fund a van suitable for the team to attend games and transport the chairs and equipment which, are not cheap at all. Also, Gill is looking for any businesses or companies in Bradford willing to donate some funds and in exchange we will have their company or individual names and logo's added to the graphics for the van, the graphics have already been donated by Signature signs who now do the signage at Odsal, they have been doing the graphics on Gill and Richard’s car for years.

If anybody is interested in helping please don’t hesitate in contacting myself, Jay Leeming and I will pass on Gill and Richard’s details.

Thank you very much to Gill and Richard for being part of BULLieve and, I wish you success in the future with the club and the appeal.

The academy lads were in action again this week on Thursday night at a cold Provident Stadium, hoping to pick up another 2 points.

The vising team were the Hull KR academy side.

Unfortunately, Hull KR proved far too strong and the lads were beaten by a score line of Bradford Bulls 18 – Hull KR 30.

The Bulls were leading at half time 12 – 10 but, after the break KR scored 3 tries in 5 minutes which zapped the Bulls energy levels resulting in the loss.

Unlucky lads. Onto your next game, putting this one behind you.

Sunday came round thick and fast, it was game day and everyone was in a buoyant mood and excited at seeing our inspirational winger Adrian Purtell return to action.

Everything seemed to go to plan for the Bulls as, another 2 points were picked up against Hull KR.

Brett Kearney scored again to make his tally for the season 9.

Bradford made a dream start when Jarrod Sammut and Keith Lulia created an overlap for Jamie Foster to cross near the corner flag after five minutes. Four minutes later, following a mistake by Con Mika, Danny Addy’s high kick was patted back by Elliot Kear for Brett Kearney to continue a run of scoring in every game with his ninth try of the season. Foster was unable to convert the tries leaving the score at 8-0.

The Robins hit back with David Hodgson and Michael Dobson converted to bring the score to 8-6.

Purtell briefly stopped the game when he emerged from the dug-out to a standing ovation and barely two minutes later the home crowd were roused again when Kearney stabbed a grubber into the corner, which Kear successfully pounced on to score Bradford’s third try with Foster converting to make the score now, Bulls 14 – Robins 6.

Another Addy kick bounced kindly for Bateman to collect and ground. Then Bateman helped create the next score, setting Lulia and Foster free down the wing for Sammut to take the final pass and touch down. This made the half time score look healthy at 26 – 6.

Rovers scored through Josh Hodgson, back from a recent suspension, dummied his way over with Dobson adding a second goal but determined home defence restricted any further damage. Score Bulls 26 – Robins 12. Sammut then cut through on his own to claim his second try, and Foster took his tally to five goals with the conversion and a late penalty.

Final score, Bradford Bulls 34 – Hull KR 12. Attendance: 7,843.

The lads would like to take this opportunity to thank every supporter and have praised the support you provide. Both home and away have been brilliant with a lot of noise which, spurs the lads on and gives them a buzz.

Up next,

Catalan Dragons on Saturday at the Stade Gilbert Brutus with a 6pm kick off.  This will be a tough mental and physical battle and hopefully we will come back home with the 2 points. Best of luck lads.

The Bradford Bulls Foundation now have a website up and running. The address is www.bullsfoundation.org if you don’t know what the foundation is then, have a look on the website you never know you could help.

Events at the Provident Stadium.

Saturday 30th March.

Ultimate Adele tribute night. 3 course meal, house band playing until 1am with tickets costing £19.95 per person.

Easter Sunday 31st March 2013, 12-4pm.

Entry is free with different things going on including,

Craft Stalls, Carvery, Easter egg Hunt, Face Painting, Raffle, and Tombola, Pass the Easter egg, Craft Area, Easter Bonnet Competition, Cakes & Bun Stall, Team Taurus –

Some players will be in attendance along with Bullboy. Come along with all the family and enjoy a fun filled day.

 If you would be interested in having a stall, then please contact katie.stirk@bradfordbulls.co.uk or telephone 07734921177

Once again I would like to personally thank each and every reader for taking your time to read BULLieve.

I would also like to thank the Bulls board, Omar Khan, Simon Kenny, Vipin Joshi and Ryan Whitcut for letting BULLieve be officially part of the club.

 

Until next week, don’t stop BULLieving and have a great week.

 

Jay Leeming.

 

 

 

BULLieve 11TH March 2013

BULLieve

8^TH March 2013

 

Welcome to another edition of the weekly Bradford Bulls article BULLieve.

This week we have seen some big changes at the Provident Stadium. Firstly, we would like to welcome the newest Director of the board, Jay Willey.

Bradford businesswoman Jay Willey is poised to join the board of directors at the Bulls after agreeing to pump a “six-figure” sum into the club in return for a significant shareholding.

The 41-year-old from Holme Wood owns the European arm of cosmetics firm Kroma and has vowed to bring a touch of “glitz and glamour” to the Bulls.

 A lifelong fan, Willey approached Omar Khan after his purchase of the club last September and discussions began over a potential role at the Provident Stadium.

Jay has been working with Omar on a voluntary basis and this has progressed into her deciding she would like to become an investor of the club and adding funds in return for a place on the director’s board. Jay knows her investment will not bring back immediate money but said “I want to see the club grow on and off the field and this kind of investment can help achieve that. We’re very family orientated and at the moment we’re looking at some new disabled facilities being installed.

 For me it’s about giving something back to the fans because they were so incredibly supportive during the club’s financial troubles last year. Ultimately, we want to see the Bulls competing with the bigger clubs again”.

Jay is looking forward to working with Kate Hardcastle who pledged 20 days of her time to become a non-Executive Director at the Bulls which, Can only be a good thing. Having women as directors at the club is showing that equality is also part and parcel of our mainly male orientated game.

Ryan Whitcut Bulls General Manager had this to say about Jay,

“It’s fantastic news that Jay, a true Bradfordian, has voiced her intention to invest both time and money into the club. It has always been Omar’s plan to make part of the Bradford Bulls available to the Bradford community and the supporters.”

The money investment is a bonus form Jay and both Jay and Kate are hardworking no nonsense women and, Have a wealth of experience. Things within the club and community links are once again closer than ever and, I am trying to engage with all Bulls fans directly from the club to forge even better club/fan interaction.

On the back of this, Omar Khan has revealed this week that shares in the club will become available to fans and businesses. Omar will remain the majority shareholder keeping control of the ever rising club but insists,

“I want the fans and community to be involved in the club, so I have decided to release some shares and let them be part of the club,”

Whilst speaking to Omar and the other directors in the Coral stand, this is something everyone is backing and are very passionate about the club becoming a community club.

Omar is not just a business man who owns a rugby club, Omar is a very passionate Bradford Bulls fan and has been for over 20 years.

Omar has told me the club is financially secure so please don’t think that because shares will become available, It is because we are in financial trouble again as this is not the case.

More information on Share prices and availability will be released within this coming week.

Friday night came along very quickly, and the Bulls academy and 1^st team faced the Widnes Vikings in each of their matches.

The curtain raiser saw the academy side play with key man, John Bateman playing for the full 80 minutes and scoring a hat trick in the process which should surely mean he will be in the 1^st team squad next week.

The academy side played some very good rugby and took full advantage of John Bateman’s vigour and determination. The side came out winners with a score line of Widnes Vikings 16 – Bradford Bulls 46.

The wait was over, the state of the art I Pitch was all set for what turned out to be a game of two halves.

The Bulls came out strong and looking in great shape for the first half commanding play and, building a lead of 20 – 4 going to the break.

Some great plays meant Elliot Whitehead, Brett Kearney, Matt Diskin and Keith Lulia all scored with Jarrod Sammut converting 1 goal attempt and kicking a penalty.

Controversially Gareth Hock saw red for reportedly swearing at the officials after Matt Diskin’s try was awarded on the half hour mark.

While ex Bull Patrick Ah Van was the only try scorer for the home team and couldn’t convert his try.

The second half beckoned and the fans were in a jubilant mood and must have thought the Bulls had wrapped the game up. Widnes down to 12 men and 16 points down could they come back?

Just 4 minutes into the second half, Rhys Hanbury was on hand to score the home team’s first of 3 tries. Not long after the Vikings were in again this time Patrick Ah Van down the left side for his second of the game. The Vikings were putting the Bulls under a lot of pressure and, only a relieving penalty gave the Bulls some breathing time. 40 metres out Jarrod Sammut lined up to take the kick at goal which would prove pivotal. Widnes hit back through White and was now only 2 points behind. A penalty for offside then gave Ah Van an opportunity, which he did not miss to level it up and despite drop goal efforts from Addy and Hanbury that is the way it stayed.

The Bulls have reported that Matty Blythe and Chev Walker picked up ankle knocks whilst, Jamie Langley has a groin strain.

After the match Francis Cummins had this to say,

“This is probably a little awakening for the boys. We had a great win on Sunday at Huddersfield and were very smart – but we weren’t tonight. The referee didn’t miss the tackles; he didn’t try and offload when we were in silly positions. We’re not into excuses.”

Final score Widnes Vikings 22 – Bradford Bulls 22

Attendance 5,861.

Next up we have Hull Kingston Rovers at the Provident Stadium on Sunday 17^TH March 2013 kick off 3PM.

If you cannot wait that long and fancy watching the academy side, the under 19s are playing at odsal on Thursday, kick off 7.30 and food will be on sale.

Events at the Provident Stadium.

Friday 15^Th March

The Bulls will be holding another of their popular Comedy Nights on Friday 15th March in the Coral Stand.

 MC is Sam Brady with 3 support acts Chris Schofield, Joseph Wilson and third TBC Headline act Andy Watson. A good night out is guaranteed!!

 Tickets are just £5 when purchased in advance, or £7 on the night.

 Doors Open 7pm / Show starts 8pm

 To book your ticket call 07854 551742, email makemelaughcomedy@live.com or contact the ticket office.

Coming soon,

More Car Boot sales at the Provident Stadium. No dates as of yet but, There will be plenty of notice for both buyers and sellers alike.

Special Thanks go to Omar Khan, Simon Kenny, Vipin Joshi and Ryan Whitcut.

Once again I thank each and every reader because without you, there is no weekly article.

Until next week,

Take care and keep BULLieving.

Jay Leeming

Bradford Bulls Promoter.

 

Giant Killers

BULLieve

4^th March 2013

Welcome to this week’s addition of BULLieve.

I will start with a quick recap of last Saturdays match at home against the ST Helens.

I will start by saying although we looked lethargic and lacklustre, there was no excuse for the inept and, inadequate performance from referee Tim Roby.

The bulls were pulled up for consistently laying on in the tackle yet, the ST’s team never once got penalised for the exact same infringement. Due to his very bad performance Tim Roby was dropped from super league this weekend.

The bulls went down 10-36 to St Helens and went into this week’s game putting last week behind them.

First up was the academy side who played the Huddersfield Giants at the Huddersfield YMCA ground.

This game was the first game back for John Bateman who, had been out with injury and had his shoulder reconstructed in 7 months and boy did he not disappoint.

John showed strength and skill like he had not been off the pitch which, shows how well John has recovered and what a great job the phsyio’s and conditioners etc. really do for our sportsmen.

Bateman, though, was only allowed a thirty minute stint by the club’s medical staff and he left the field on the forty fifth minute, which left the Bulls with only two substitutes for the remainder of the game.

Despite the end result of Giants 32 Bulls 24 the Bulls played some fantastic rugby.

Huddersfield took a 10- lead before the Bulls hit back with tries to Josh Greenwood-Macdonald, Kyle Moore and Nathan Conroy, all goaled by Scrum Half Adam Brook and led 18-10 at the break. Sam Wood extended the lead shortly in the second period after great play by Bateman but it was to be the Bulls last success of the night.  As the side visibly tired, with the lack of fresh substitutes taking its toll, Huddersfield hit back with four late tries to run out winners.

Very unlucky lads, roll onto next week put this defeat behind you.

The much eagerly anticipated match day, dubbed the West Yorkshire Origin game part 1 was now here.

The atmosphere from the moment the Bulls fans entered the John Smith’s Stadium was electric. Continues singing from the fans for the full 80 minutes and beyond drown out the old war cry of far town. The only change in the Bulls squad was, Adam O’Brien in for the injured Matt Diskin.

Kick off was imminent, as soon as the ball was kicked off you could see the drive, determination and pure dominance from the fresh Bulls side.

The Bulls got off to a dream start thanks to converted tries from Sammut and Matty Blythe in the 4^th and 9^th minutes. The Giants hit back through Joe Wardle and David Faiumu, before Danny Addy and Brett Kearney responded for the Bulls to make it 24-12 at half-time. Shaun Lunt's score reduced the arrears but Adam O'Brien and Sammut were on hand to secure Bradford's victory. Jarrod Sammut was on fire and score a hat trick, his last right on the hooter. Also to add to Sammut’s talents, Jarrod scored a drop goal.

The score line wasn’t as it seemed as, the Giants pilled on a lot of pressure but, with composure and brilliant defence the Bulls managed to keep them out.

Final score at the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield Giants 18 Bradford Bulls 43.

One thing for me in the game was, the shoulder charge on Nick Scruton. This was either overlooked or completely missed by James Child who, for me had a great game.

As we are all well aware the shoulder charge has been banned from all competitions and I feel the RFL should look into the incident. A ban is a ban no matter what.

Brett Kearney remains the only player to score in each round of the competition so far with his tally now at 7.

As you may or may not know the Bulls players have been praising our fans and CO – Captain Heath L’Estrange had this to say about the 500 or so travelling fans “Thank you to the Bradford Bulls faithful today. Once again you dominated at an away game!! Bravo”

Up next,

 The Bulls will travel to the Stobart Stadium to face Widnes Vikings this Friday 8^th March and kick off is 8pm. The club are urging fans to purchase tickets for all away games through our club ticket office.

EVENTS AT THE PROVIDENT STADIUM THIS WEEK,

The Provident Stadium will host its first Car Boot Sale on Sunday.

Gates open at 7.00am and close at 2.00pm and the cost is just £5.00 for cars and £7.00 for Vans.

As this is also Mother's Day, the club will also be hosting a Carvery Lunch in the Coral Stand at just £5.00 for Adults and £4.00 for Children.

Although this week’s BULLieve is only a short one, I hope you have enjoyed reading and hope to see you reading future editions.

Special mention to www.superleaguefans.com for giving BULLieve a home and letting fans of all teams see the weekly article.

Cheers and, until next week keep BULLieving.

 

Article written by

Jay Leeming.