Full Report

Match Official: J Child

Stand-off Jarrod Sammut scored a hat-trick of tries as Bradford Bulls produced their best performance under new coach Francis Cummins to end Huddersfield Giants’ 100% Super League record.
 
The Giants stayed top of the table after Warrington Wolves lost at Hull KR but there was little else for the home fans to cheer after witnessing a woeful display by their team.
 
Huddersfield sorely lacked leadership and creativity in the absence of their skipper Danny Brough, who pulled out through illness, and never recovered from a shocking start in which they conceded two tries in the first nine minutes.
 
The Giants gave a full debut to Tongan international Ukuma Ta’ai but most eyes were on his fellow prop Craig Kopczak as he faced his old club for the first time since walking out on them on the eve of the final match of last season - and he quickly became the pantomime villain.

The Wales captain knocked on with his first touch and then conceded a penalty, much to the delight of the Bulls fans, who very soon had much more to cheer as the visitors got off to a dream start.

Scott Grix gifted Bradford their first score, fumbling Sammut’s grubber kick to allow the Australian half-back an easy try, while winger Elliot Kear palmed Danny Addy’s kick into the arms of centre Matty Blythe for the second.

Jamie Foster added both conversions to make it 12-0 and Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson’s response was to withdraw Ta’ai, who made an inauspicious opening to his first start for the club.

The Giants briefly rallied, cutting the gap to two points when former Bradford centre Joe Wardle took Luke Robinson’s short pass to crash over for a try before loose forward David Faiumu forced his way over from close range.

Bradford were in no mood to roll over, however, and extended their lead with two more tries in a 10-minute spell before half-time.

Addy took hooker Heath L’Estrange’s pass to go over and full-back Brett Kearney demonstrated his attacking flair to add a fourth try, with the accurate Foster once more adding both conversions.

Huddersfield pulled two points back on the stroke of half-time through the boot of Grix, who kicked a penalty to add to his earlier conversion, but they fell further behind within five minutes of the restart.

The unfortunate Grix, switching between stand-off and full-back, gathered Addy’s grubber kick behind his own line but had the ball stolen from him by the opportunistic Sammut for his second try.

Grix helped atone for his latest error by hoisting a kick that bounced awkwardly on the Bradford line and produced a try for hooker Shaun Lunt. He then grabbed a third goal to make it 30-18.

Replacement hooker Adam O’Brien, who got the call-up because of injury to Matt Diskin, then scored with his first touch to register his first Super League try and Foster kicked his sixth goal from as many attempts.

Sammut put over a drop goal on 63 minutes to strengthen his side’s hold on the game, which Huddersfield never looked capable of breaking. He then piled on the misery for the home side by completing his hat-trick in the last move of the match.