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 included to by 3 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 once again to secure 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 quarters after Joe Mellor kept the move alive.


Milnes kicked two penalties from under the sticks inside 22 minutes, punishing 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 decision, ruling that he had actually not touched the ball down.


It showed to be a crucial moment as Milnes added a 3rd charge goal before Blake raced away after a swift group relocation from right to left to score the Bulls' 2nd try.


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


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


The momentum was with the visitors, and another Bradford mistake, this time from Aekins, was punished as Sexton discussed, however his went broad to leave the deficit at 14 points.


Ryan practically apologized for his error by catching a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, but the video referee prohibited the try, ruling that Ryan had been taken on throughout the play.


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


Bradford development pleases Haggerty - response


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I truly took pleasure in the very first half. I actually delighted in parts of the second half, particularly defensively.


"We were truly sloppy with the ball in the second half, but I liked how we turned Catalans away. We demonstrated how fit we are ... and how far we have actually been available in a short space of time.


"The belief of the group is truly essential, we've got another tough game [meeting Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't just peak since we've got a great crowd at Odsal.


"We'll certainly will not be happy, we'll attend to 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.


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20 February