It's hard to believe that it was the first Challenge Cup final of the super league era, and yes it really was 21 years ago, (feeling old yet).
Commentators described the match as the greatest, well before the ball had even been touched.
The game had just about everything it was a 13 try thriller which had never been seen at Wembley before, the scoring began round about the 4th minute when a high kick from Goulding saw Scott Gibbs break free from Loughlin and direct a high pass to Steve Prescott who raced over for a Try.
About 15 minutes later it was Prescott that hacked on a clever grubber kick by Goulding and dropped over the line for a try.
It was then the turn of the Bulls to post some points of there own, a clever piece of play from Robbie Paul, Dwyer, and Loughlin put Jonathon Scales over for a fine try in the corner of which Paul Cook converted with a superb towering kick. On the half hour mark it was Cook again that tied the scores at 8-8 from a penalty.
A few moments later though it was the saints to score again in the shape of Danny Arnold who wrong footed the Bulls defence with a superb side step and a Newlove tackle bust to score a try and put saints back into the driving seat.
With around seven minutes before the break a strong run from Nathan Graham and Matt Calland set up a try directly under the sticks for Robbie Paul, Cook converted and the Bulls hit the front for the first time in the game. Half time 14-12.
Soon into the second half the Bulls were in full control soaring into a 26-12 lead with tries from Bernard Dwyer and Robbie Paul, both converted by Cook. Sadly though the dominance was not to last and Bobby Goulding began a chain of events that turned the game on its head in a deadly seven minute spell. The saints scrum half hoisted a high kick towards the Bulls line which Nathan Graham the Bulls full back, let the ball bounce and ended up straight in the arms of Kieran Cunningham of which Goulding converted. Three minutes later Goulding tried his luck again with another perfect kick at the Bradford defence, Graham failed to deal with and Simon Booth went over with the kick successful again from Goulding. 26-24
In about the 60th minute it was Graham again under the pressure of another bomb from the boot of Goulding with saints crossing through Ian Pickavance again it was concerted by the afore mentioned Mr Goulding. Saints led by 4 (26-30)
The saints now we're now in confident mood and extended there lead again through Danny Arnold scoring his second try of the match this time there wasn't a conversion but Saints led by 8 (26-34)
The Bulls refused to lay down though and Robbie Paul mesmerised the Saints defence to register his hat trick, he had surged through a gap on the half way then duped Prescott with a subtle change of pace to score the first ever hat trick at Wembley, Paul Cook kicked the resulting conversion to bring the Bradford side back to within just 2 points. 32-34.
Sadly that was it though for a valiant effort as this was the Bulls first appearance at a Wembley final since 1973 when a then Bradford Northern side lost out to Featherstone Rovers 33-14, the fairy tale was ended in the 75th minute when Apollo Perelini crashed over for the 13th Try of the game after a defence splitting run from Goulding whom also converted the Try to score the last points of the game.
Final Score 32-40
Brian Smith after the game refused to let Nathan Graham shoulder the blame " All those who would like to be at the back to catch those balls, with people coming through with baseball bats and hand grenades, should form a queue outside my office on Monday morning" he said.
The teams on the day were as follows.
Bradford Bulls. St Helens.
Graham Prescott
Cook Arnold
Calland. Gibbs
Loughlin. Newlove
Scales. Sullivan
Bradley. Hammond
Paul. Goulding
McDermott. Perelini
Dwyer. Cunningham
Hamer. Leatham
Donoougher Joynt
Nickle. Booth
Knox. Northley
Subs and whom they replaced.
Fairbank for Hamer. Martyn for Northey
Medley for Nickle. Pickavance for Martyn
Donohoe for Knox. Matautia for Leatham
Hassan for Graham. Hunte for Perelini
Lance Todd trophy winner Robbie Paul
Referee Stuart Cummings. Attendance 75,994. Half Time 14-12
The programme from the final.
It's been a long time since we have had something to really shout about and it's hard to believe that this game along with the whole of the rebuilding of 1996 was the beginning of the whole of the Bradford dominance along with St Helens who tussled the Grand finals and battled so hard in the early days of Super League. Sadly through the Bulls miss management we languish at the bottom of the championship on -2 points and travel to Toulouse this weekend hoping to begin the zero party.
Safe travels to everyone heading over there and we sincerely hope that the Bulls give you all plenty to cheer.
Remember to BULLIEVE.
Article written and researched (and from what I remember) by Thomas Fynn.
The views of this article do not reflect those of the Bradford Bulls nor any organisation.
