1999 Bradford Bulls season explained

Year:1999
Team Colour:
  1. ffffff
Font Colour:
  1. f32824
League:Super League
League Link:Super League IV
League Rank:1st
League Wins:26
League Draws:1
League Losses:5
Points For:1123
Points Against:544
Playoff Result:Runners Up
Cup:Challenge Cup
Cup Result:Semi-final
Cup Wins:3
Cup Losses:1
Ceo Title:Chairman
Ceo:Chris Caisley
Coach Title:Head Coach
Coach:Matthew Elliot
Stadium:Odsal Stadium
Avg Attendance:12,912
High Attendance:24,020 vs. Leeds Rhinos
Top Tries:Michael Withers (21)
Top Goals:Steve McNamara (98)
Top Points:Steve McNamara (221)
Prev Season:1998
Next Season:2000
List:yes
List Link:List of Bradford Bulls seasons

This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 1999 season, the 4th season of the Super League era.

Season review

February 1999

The Bulls kicked off their 1999 season with a huge bang as they thrashed Workington Town 92–0 in the Challenge Cup. They progressed through to the quarter-finals by defeating Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26–8.

March 1999

Bradford won their first Super League game of the year 18–6 against Sheffield Eagles. The Bulls progressed to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup by beating Warrington Wolves 52–16. Bradford's winning streak continued with an 8–3 win over Hull Sharks. Bradford's first loss of the season came in the Challenge Cup semi-final as they were beaten 23–10 by arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos.

April 1999

The Bulls didn't have to wait long to avenge the semi-final loss, the very next week Bradford beat Leeds 18–14 in front of a 16,000 plus crowd at Odsal which meant the Bulls retained 2nd place in the table. After the high of beating Leeds the Bulls came crashing back down to earth after suffering a 58–14 loss to St. Helens. However they soon got their season back on track with a 26–16 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at home, they followed this win with another victory, this time a 22–14 win away at Warrington Wolves. Bradford finished the month with a 20–2 win against fellow Yorkshire team Halifax Blue Sox.

May 1999

Bradford kicked May off with an 18–18 draw against Castleford Tigers which was the Bulls first draw in the Super League history. The following week Bradford hammered Salford City Reds with a 46–6 victory, soon after the Bulls beat Gateshead Thunder 22–12 at the Thunderdome. In one of the Bulls best performances of the year they beat Wigan Warriors 19–2, keeping the Super League champions try less. Bradford's dominance throughout May ended with a 22–20 win against Huddersfield Giants.

June 1999

Bradford kicked off June with an outstanding 52–2 win against Sheffield Eagles. The Bulls great run of form continued with an astonishing 74–12 win against London Broncos at Odsal Stadium, however they were soon brought to a low as they crashed to a 45–16 loss against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos. They didn't let this heavy defeat get them down as they took St. Helens apart the following week and won 46–22 ensuring that they stayed at the top of the league.

July 1999

The Bulls beat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 36–8 in the first game in July, this win kept them at the top of the table. They followed this win with a clinical performance against Huddersfield Giants and came out 26–0 winners. Bradford's good run of results continued with an outstanding 56–6 win against Warrington Wolves. They travelled to Halifax and beat them 34–20 in a tough match to make sure their status as league leaders was intact, this continued with a 24–22 win against Castleford Tigers. The next match saw the Bulls beat London Broncos 19–16 in a hard fought game at Welford Road.

August 1999

Bradford started off August with a comprehensive 58–20 win over Salford City Reds. Gateshead Thunder was the next to lose in the Bulls run of impressive victories as Bradford beat them 30–14. Bradford's long run of successive wins was brought to and end as Wigan Warriors beat the Bulls 14–0 which makes it the first time in the Super League history that the Bulls have been scoreless in a game. However they bounced back a week later to thrash Sheffield Eagles 52–4. Bradford then beat Hull Sharks 44–12 to ensure that they stayed at the top of the league and would be Super League minor premiers for the 1999 season.

September 1999

Bradford beat their arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos 19–18 with a last minute drop goal from Michael Withers in front of a 24,020 crowd at Odsal Stadium. The Bulls finished off the regular season with a 25–16 loss to St. Helens however Bradford were awarded the League Leader's Shield for finishing top of the league. Bradford once again faced St. Helens but this time in the Qualifying Semi-final, Bradford beat the Saints 40–4 with Henry Paul pulling the strings and contributing by scoring 2 tries. However Saints were to get their revenge as they beat Bradford 8–6 in a hard fought Grand Final with Henry Paul scoring all 6 of Bradford's points.

1999 milestones

Table

width=20 abbr="Position"width=175Teamwidth=20 abbr="Played"Pldwidth=20 abbr="Won"Wwidth=20 abbr="Drawn"Dwidth=20 abbr="Lost"Lwidth=20 abbr="Points for"PFwidth=20 abbr="Points against"PAwidth=20 abbr="Points difference"PDwidth=20 abbr="Points"Pts
1 Bradford Bulls302514897445+45251
2 St. Helens3023071034561+47346
3 Leeds Rhinos302217910558+35245
4 Wigan Warriors302118877390+48743
5 Castleford Tigers301938712451+26141
6 Gateshead Thunder3019110775576+19939
7 Warrington Wolves3015114700717−1731
8London Broncos3013215644708−6428
9 Halifax Blue Sox3011019573792−21922
10 Sheffield Eagles3010119518818−30021
11 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats3010020608795−18720
12 Salford City Reds306123526916−39013
13 Hull Sharks305025422921−49910
14 Huddersfield Giants3050254631011−54810
Play-offs

1999 fixtures and results

LEGEND
 width=100Win
 width=100Draw
 width=100Loss

1999 JJB Sports Super League

DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
 7 March 1999Super League IV1Sheffield EaglesHOdsal StadiumW18–6Lowes, McAvoy, WithersH.Paul 3/312,044
 21 March 1999Super League IV2Hull SharksAThe BoulevardW8–3McAvoyMcNamara 2/26,577
 1 April 1999Super League IV3Leeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumW18–14Forshaw, H.Paul, R.PaulMcNamara 1/1, H.Paul 2/216,049
 5 April 1999Super League IV4St. HelensAKnowsley RoadL14–58Dwyer, HarmonDeacon 3/315,042
 11 April 1999Super League IV5Wakefield Trinity WildcatsHOdsal StadiumW26–16Boyle, Lowes, Naylor, D.PeacockMcNamara 5/511,802
 18 April 1999Super League IV6Warrington WolvesAWilderspool StadiumW22–14Boyle, Naylor, Spruce, WithersH.Paul 3/47,591
 23 April 1999Super League IV7Halifax Blue SoxHOdsal StadiumW20–2Fielden, McAvoy, Vaikona, WithersMcNamara 2/411,103
 3 May 1999Super League IV8Castleford TigersAThe JungleD18–18McNamara, R.PaulMcNamara 5/510,122
 9 May 1999Super League IV9Salford City RedsHOdsal StadiumW46–6Spruce (2), Jowitt, McAvoy, McDermott, McNamara, R.Paul, PryceMcNamara 4/5, Deacon 3/311,863
 16 May 1999Super League IV10Gateshead ThunderAThunderdomeW22–12Jowitt, H.Paul, PryceMcNamara 1/1, Deacon 2/2, H.Paul 2/26,631
 22 May 1999Super League IV11Wigan WarriorsHOdsal StadiumW19–2R.Paul, WithersMcNamara 1/1, Deacon 4/4, Deacon 1 DG13,476
 30 May 1999Super League IV12Huddersfield GiantsHOdsal StadiumW22–20Fielden, Lowes, Pryce, SpruceDeacon 3/411,032
 5 June 1999Super League IV13Sheffield EaglesASaltergateW52–2Spruce (2), Boyle, Lowes, McAvoy, McDermott, R.Paul, J.Peacock, PryceDeacon 3/3, H.Paul 3/3, McNamara 2/34,801
 9 June 1999Super League IV14London BroncosHOdsal StadiumW74–12Forshaw (3), J.Peacock (2), Spruce (2), Deacon, Fielden, McAvoy, Naylor, R.Paul, WithersDeacon 6/7, H.Paul 5/69,575
 13 June 1999Super League IV15Hull SharksHOdsal StadiumW42–14McAvoy (4), R.Paul (2), FieldenMcNamara 5/5, Deacon 2/311,757
 18 June 1999Super League IV16Leeds RhinosAHeadingley StadiumL16–45H.Paul (2), BoyleMcNamara 1/2, H.Paul 1/121,666
 25 June 1999Super League IV17St. HelensHOdsal StadiumW46–22Lowes (2), Pryce (2), Forshaw, McAvoy, Naylor, H.Paul, SpruceDeacon 3/5, McNamara 2/415,107
 2 July 1999Super League IV18Wakefield Trinity WildcatsABelle VueW36–8Lowes (2), Boyle, Donougher, Howlett, J.PeacockMcNamara 5/5, Deacon 1/14,685
 7 July 1999Super League IV19Huddersfield GiantsAMcAlpine StadiumW26–0Lowes, McNamara, Naylor, WithersMcNamara 5/56,581
 11 July 1999Super League IV20Warrington WolvesHOdsal StadiumW56–6McDermott (3), Jowitt (2), Anderson, Lowes, Pryce, SpruceMcNamara 10/1013,063
 18 July 1999Super League IV21Halifax Blue SoxAThe ShayW34–20Lowes (2), Vaikona (2), Fielden, SpruceMcNamara 5/69,342
 25 July 1999Super League IV22Castleford TigersHOdsal StadiumW24–22Lowes, McAvoy, H.Paul, SpruceMcNamara 4/413,824
 28 July 1999Super League IV23London BroncosAWelford RoadW19–16Boyle, McAvoy, WithersMcNamara 3/3, McNamara 1 DG8,233
 1 August 1999Super League IV24Salford City RedsAThe WillowsW58–20J.Peacock (2), Spruce (2), Withers (2), Boyle, Howlett, McAvoy, McNamara, H.PaulMcNamara 6/9, Deacon 1/26,680
 8 August 1999Super League IV25Gateshead ThunderHOdsal StadiumW30–14Boyle (2), Pryce (2), Lowes, WithersH.Paul 2/3, McNamara 1/312,492
 13 August 1999Super League IV26Wigan WarriorsAJJB StadiumL0–14––10,734
 22 August 1999Super League IV27Sheffield EaglesHOdsal StadiumW52–4Vaikona (2), Anderson, Donougher, Forshaw, McDermott, Naylor, H.Paul, WithersMcNamara 8/911,029
 29 August 1999Super League IV28Hull SharksAThe BoulevardW44–12Withers (4), Pryce (2), Boyle, VaikonaMcNamara 6/85,036
 3 September 1999Super League IV29Leeds RhinosHOdsal StadiumW19–18McAvoy, Pryce, VaikonaMcNamara 3/3, Withers 1 DG24,020
 10 September 1999Super League IV30St. HelensAKnowsley RoadL16–25Fielden, McNamara, R.PaulMcNamara 2/38,490

Challenge Cup

LEGEND
 width=100Win
 width=100Draw
 width=100Loss
DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
 14 February 1999Cup4thWorkington TownHOdsal StadiumW92–0McAvoy (4), Withers (4), Lowes (2), Zisti (2), Deacon, Fielden, McDermott, R.Paul, VaikonaDeacon 12/177,593
 28 February 1999Cup5thWakefield Trinity WildcatsABelle Vue StadiumW26–8Fielden, Lowes, McNamara, H.PaulDeacon 3/3, McNamara 2/27,385
 14 March 1999CupQFWarrington WolvesHOdsal StadiumW52–16Vaikona (4), Boyle, Forshaw, Naylor, R.Paul, Spruce, WithersH.Paul 6/1010,430
 28 March 1999CupSFLeeds RhinosNMcAlpine StadiumL10–23Boyle, LowesH.Paul 1/223,438

Playoffs

LEGEND
 width=100Win
 width=100Draw
 width=100Loss
DateCompetitionRndVrsH/AVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAtt
 26 September 1999Play-offsQSFSt. HelensHOdsal StadiumW40–4H.Paul (2), Fielden, Naylor, Vaikona, WithersMcNamara 7/7, Deacon 1/116,162
 9 October 1999Play-offsGFSt. HelensNOld TraffordL6–8H.PaulH.Paul 1/150,717

1999 squad statistics

width=3%Nowidth=47%Playerwidth=15%PositionTriesGoalsDGPoints
1Robbie PaulFullbackalign=centre11align=centre0align=centre0align=centre44
2Tevita VaikonaWingalign=centre13align=centre0align=centre0align=centre52
3Danny PeacockCentrealign=centre1align=centre0align=centre0align=centre4
4Nathan McAvoyCentrealign=centre19align=centre0align=centre0align=centre76
5Michael WithersWingalign=centre21align=centre0align=centre1align=centre85
6Henry PaulStand Offalign=centre12align=centre29align=centre0align=centre106
7Paul DeaconScrum-halfalign=centre2align=centre47align=centre1align=centre103
8Neil HarmonPropalign=centre1align=centre0align=centre0align=centre4
9James LowesHookeralign=centre18align=centre0align=centre0align=centre72
10Paul AndersonPropalign=centre2align=centre0align=centre0align=centre8
11Jeremy DonougherSecond Rowalign=centre2align=centre0align=centre0align=centre8
12Mike ForshawSecond Rowalign=centre7align=centre0align=centre0align=centre28
13Steve McNamaraLoose forwardalign=centre6align=centre98align=centre1align=centre221
14Nick ZistiWingalign=centre2align=centre0align=centre0align=centre8
15David BoyleSecond Rowalign=centre12align=centre0align=centre0align=centre48
16Warren JowittPropalign=centre4align=centre0align=centre0align=centre16
17Leon PryceWingalign=centre12align=centre0align=centre0align=centre48
18Lee RadfordWingalign=centre0align=centre0align=centre0align=centre0
19Jamie PeacockSecond Rowalign=centre6align=centre0align=centre0align=centre24
20Scott NaylorCentrealign=centre8align=centre0align=centre0align=centre32
22Brian McDermottPropalign=centre7align=centre0align=centre0align=centre28
23Bernard DwyerSecond Rowalign=centre1align=centre0align=centre0align=centre4
25Phil HowlettWingalign=centre2align=centre0align=centre0align=centre8
26Paul SykesCentrealign=centre0align=centre0align=centre0align=centre0
28Stuart SpruceFullbackalign=centre15align=centre0align=centre0align=centre60
29Stuart FieldenPropalign=centre9align=centre0align=centre0align=centre36

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