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, and Caleb Aekins were included to by 3 charge goals 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 second half.


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


Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who weaved before 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, penalizing a string of errors by the Dragons.


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


It proved to be an essential moment as Milnes included a 3rd penalty objective before Blake raced away after a speedy team relocation from right to delegated score the Bulls' 2nd try.


Aekins then darted through a space 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 pounced on by Faataape, who could not think his luck as he ran in to score.


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


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


Blake added his second try moments later after Ryan integrated with Milnes to cap a remarkable victory.


Bradford development pleases Haggerty - reaction


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


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


"We were truly careless with the ball in the 2nd half, but I liked how we turned Catalans away. We showed how fit we are ... and how far we have actually can be found in a short area of time.


"The belief of the group is actually crucial, we have actually got another hard video game [meeting Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't simply peak because we have actually got an excellent crowd at Odsal.


"We'll definitely will not be delighted, 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.


St Helens edge out Leigh in thriller


Leeds subdue York for first Super League win


20 February