Brave effort fails to halt rampant Bulls!

Aug 4 2003 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Bradford Bulls 30 - 16 Giants. Battered squad win proud salute from Smith

"The spirit and effort shown by my boys yesterday was unbelievable," said Smith.

"This was real backs-to-the-wall stuff, and if I had to be sent into the trenches I would want all of these players alongside me.

"I was proud of what they did and I'm sure the fans were equally as proud of their team.

"I always knew this had the potential to be an exceptionally difficult game, because it was on the back of a period of three games in 10 days.

"That's a tough ask in anyone's book.

"But it was always going to test the strength of our small squad to its absolute limit, and that's exactly what it did.

"Luckily, I've got a very special bunch of players at the club and they didn't let anyone down."

The opening exchanges didn't bode well for the visitors as they conceded a point a minute in the opening 24 minutes.

Paul Deacon gave the Bulls the lead with a third-minute penalty and by the seventh minute the advantage had been extended to 8-0 as Bradford threatened to follow up their midweek 60-6 thrashing of London Broncos in the capital with another big win.

Deacon was again the Giants' chief executioner, smartly kicking ahead for Stuart Reardon to pick up and stroll over.