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


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 added to by three charge objectives by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at half-time.


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


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


Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who weaved previously powering over the line from close range after Joe Mellor kept the move alive.


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


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


It showed to be a crucial moment as Milnes included a third penalty objective before Blake raced away after a quick team move from right to left to score the Bulls' 2nd try.


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


Three minutes after the break, the Dragons were given a present when Ethan Ryan's loose pass was attacked on by Faataape, who might not think his luck as he ran in to rating.


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


Ryan almost made amends for his mistake 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 dealt with during the play.


Blake added his 2nd shot moments later on after Ryan integrated with Milnes to top an excellent triumph.


Bradford development pleases Haggerty - reaction


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I actually enjoyed the very first half. I actually took pleasure in parts of the 2nd half, particularly defensively.


"We were truly careless 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 can be found in a short space of time.


"The belief of the group is really important, we have actually got another difficult game [coming up versus 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 won't be pleased, we'll resolve 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.


St Helens edge out Leigh in thriller


Leeds subdue York for first Super League win


20 February