Blake Scores Twice As Bradford Beat Catalans

20 February 2026


Bradford (24) 28


Tries: Ackers, Blake (2 ), Aekins Goals: Milnes (6 )


Catalans (0) 10


Tries: Faataape, Sexton Goals: Sexton


Bradford Bulls marked their first Super League home match for 12 years with an emphatic 28-10 win over Catalans Dragons.


Converted tries from Andy Ackers, Waqa Blake and Caleb Aekins were contributed to by three penalty goals by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at half-time.


Quickfire scores from Solomona Faataape and Toby Sexton threatened a spectacular Dragons comeback in the 2nd half.


But Blake scored again to secure a popular win for the Bulls at Odsal Stadium.


Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who twisted and turned in the past powering over the line from close variety after Joe Mellor kept the relocation alive.


Milnes kicked two charges from under the sticks inside 22 minutes, penalizing a string of errors by the Dragons.


The visitors were rejected by a no-try call when Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui thought he had scored on the line, however the video referee maintained the choice, ruling that he had actually not touched the ball down.


It showed to be an essential minute as Milnes included a 3rd charge goal before Blake raced away after a quick team move from right to delegated score the Bulls' second shot.


Aekins then darted through a space left by the Catalans' front row for a third try.


Three minutes after the break, the Dragons were offered a gift when Ethan Ryan's loose pass was caught by Faataape, who might not think his luck as he ran in to score.


The momentum was with the visitors, and another error, this time from Aekins, was punished as Sexton discussed, however his conversion effort went large to leave the deficit at 14 points.


Ryan nearly made amends for his mistake by capturing a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, but the video referee disallowed the shot, ruling that Ryan had been dealt with throughout the play.


Blake added his second try moments later after Ryan integrated with Milnes to cap an impressive triumph.


Bradford development pleases Haggerty - response


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"I actually delighted in the very first half. I really enjoyed parts of the second half, especially defensively.


"We were actually careless with the ball in the 2nd half, however I liked how we turned Catalans away. We demonstrated how fit we are ... and how far we have actually been available in a brief space of time.


"The belief of the group is actually crucial, we have actually got another difficult video game [coming up versus Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't simply peak since we've got a great crowd at Odsal.


"We'll definitely won't be happy, we'll address the second half, we'll repair it."


Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan; Hooley, Milnes; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Fulton, Mellor.


Interchanges: Souter, Scurr, Doro, Peposhi.


Catalans: Staines; Makinson, Cotric, Faataape, Simm; Sexton, Dodd; Satae, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Condon, Leeming.


Interchanges: Fa'asuamaleaui, Allen, Lis, Chan.


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20 February