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 very 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 charge goals by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at half-time.


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


But Blake scored again to secure a well-known win for the Bulls at Odsal Stadium.


Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who twisted and turned previously powering over the line from close quarters after Joe Mellor kept the move alive.


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


The visitors were rejected by a no-try call when Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui thought he had actually 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 an essential minute as Milnes added a third penalty objective before Blake raced away after a swift group move from right to left to score the Bulls' 2nd try.


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


Three minutes after the break, the Dragons were provided a gift when Ethan Ryan's loose pass was attacked on by Faataape, who might 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 discussed, however his conversion attempt went wide to leave the at 14 points.


Ryan almost made amends for his error by capturing a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, however the video referee disallowed the shot, ruling that Ryan had been tackled during the play.


Blake included his 2nd shot moments later after Ryan integrated with Milnes to top a remarkable success.


Bradford progress pleases Haggerty - response


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


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


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


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


"We'll definitely will not be happy, we'll address the 2nd 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