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 attempts from Andy Ackers, Waqa Blake and Caleb Aekins were contributed to by 3 charge goals by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at .


Quickfire scores from Solomona Faataape and Toby Sexton threatened a sensational Dragons resurgence in the second half.


But Blake scored again to protect a well-known 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 range after Joe Mellor kept the relocation alive.


Milnes kicked 2 charges from under the sticks inside 22 minutes, punishing a string of mistakes by the Dragons.


The visitors were denied by a no-try call when Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui believed he had actually scored on the line, but the video referee promoted the decision, ruling that he had not touched the ball down.


It proved to be a crucial minute as Milnes added a 3rd charge goal before Blake raced away after a quick team move from right to left to score the Bulls' second try.


Aekins then darted through a gap left by the Catalans' front row for a 3rd try.


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


The momentum was with the visitors, and another Bradford error, this time from Aekins, was penalized as Sexton reviewed, however his conversion attempt went broad to leave the deficit at 14 points.


Ryan nearly apologized for his mistake by catching a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, but the video referee disallowed the try, ruling that Ryan had actually been tackled throughout the play.


Blake included his second try minutes later on after Ryan integrated with Milnes to cap an excellent triumph.


Bradford development pleases Haggerty - reaction


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I really enjoyed the very first half. I really delighted in parts of the 2nd half, particularly defensively.


"We were truly sloppy with the ball in the second half, however I liked how we turned Catalans away. We showed how fit we are ... and how far we have can be found in a short space of time.


"The belief of the group is truly essential, we have actually got another difficult game [meeting Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't simply peak due to the fact that we've got a good crowd at Odsal.


"We'll certainly will not be happy, we'll deal with the 2nd half, we'll fix 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.


St Helens edge out Leigh in thriller


Leeds overpower York for very first Super League win


20 February