Bradford Bulls and On This Day - July 5th

05/07/2020

As the Eagles would have faced Bradford Bulls today in a pre-COVID19 world, club historian Nigel Borham has looked over our previous fixtures against the West Yorkshire club as well as games that have taken place on July 5th.

The sides have met 42 times in total in all competitions (not including friendlies).

Sheffield have scored a total of 658 points at an averageof 16 points per game. The highest score for Eagles is 52 and the lowest is zero!

Bradford have scored 1268 points against Sheffield, giving an average of 30 points per game with a maximum score of 80 and a lowest score of 6.

18 games have been played “at home” of which Sheffield have only won 6. The closest win was on 12th July 2015 with Eagles winning (at the Keepmoat Stadium) by 32 points to 30

There have been 12 losses “at home”, with the narrowest lost being 4 points to 11 on the 17th April 1998 at DVS. Mark Aston scored the Eagles points with 2 goals. Shaun Edwards and Stuart Spruce scored Bradford’s tries. Steve McNamaara kicked one goal and Nathan Graham scored a drop goal.

Eagles managed only 4 wins at Bradford: 27 February 1991 in Division 1 - Result Bradford 6 Sheffield 10 (Tries Aston & Panapa; Goal: Aston).

The next was on 23 September 1992 in the Yorkshire Cup Round 2 with the score: Bradford 8 Sheffield 17. Sheffield scorers: Tries Plange 2 & Farrell with goals kicked by Aston and Mycoe and a drop goal by Aston.

The third match was played on 2 August 1998 in Super League 3 where Eagles had a great win by 38 points to 16. Eagles tries: Sodje 2, Molloy, Senior, Sovatabua and Turner. 6 goals kicked by Mark Aston. and a drop goal kicked by Sovatabua and Aston.

Finally the last away win maintained the record of Aston scoring in each win!! This time Cory took over his father’s mantle and scored 18 points in the 28 to 46 point win on 3 April 2016. Sheffield’s tries scored by Aston, Lo, Minchella, Millar 2, Mexico, Straugheir, & Tyson. Cory kicked 7 goals from 9 attempts.

Sad and useless facts: An Aston has scored in 22 of the 42 matches!

Bradford have played Sheffield at Owlerton (once); Saltergate (twice); DVS (10 times); The Keepmoat Stadium (Once); Sheffield Hallam Universities Sports Park (Once); Belle Vue, Wakefield (twice) and The Olympic Legacy Park (Once) .

At “Home” Eagles and Bradford have played in the John Player Trophy, Stones Bitter Championship, Division 1; Regal Trophy, Yorkshire Cup, Super League 1, 2, 3 & 4, Kingstone Press Championship, Kingstone Press Championship Shield & Betfred Championship.
At Bradford the other competitions have been : Kingstone Press Championship Super 8s Qualifiers, Kingstone Press Championship Shield and Shield Play Off Final.

Eagles have been “nilled” twice (18 September 2016 & 8 March 2020).

ON THIS DAY - 5th July

There have been 3 matches played on this date: Swinton in 2013 at DVS. Sheffield 34 Swinton 10.

Halifax in 2015 at The Shay; Halifax 38 Sheffield 10.

Finally v York City Knights in 2019 at Olympic Legacy Park. Sheffield 16 York 23.