This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 1997 season, the 2nd season of the Super League era.
February 1997
Bradford started off their 1997 season with an emphatic 62âÂÂ10 win over Hunslet Hawks in the 4th Round of the Challenge Cup. The Bulls continued their Challenge Cup run with a 34âÂÂ12 win against London Broncos.
March 1997
The Bulls progressed through to the Challenge Cup semi-final with a 38âÂÂ12 win in the quarter-final against Oldham Bears. Bradford kicked off their Super League II campaign with a 58âÂÂ12 win against Warrington Wolves. Bradford once again reached the Challenge Cup Final for the 2nd year in a row and similar to last year they beat arch rivals Leeds Rhinos to get there; in a tight game the Bulls were 24âÂÂ10 victors.
April 1997
April started off with a 38âÂÂ12 win against Castleford Tigers keeping the Bulls at the top of the table. A last minute drop goal from Steve McNamara ensure that the Bulls beat London Broncos 19âÂÂ14. Bradford then travelled to Central Park to play the Premiership Champions Wigan Warriors, a game which Paul Cook's 100% goal kicking ensure the Bulls stayed top of the table with a 22âÂÂ18 win. Bradford continued their unbeaten run with a 30âÂÂ18 win in Paris. The Bulls unbeaten run was nearly broken with a spirited display from Halifax Blue Sox however Bradford managed to hang onto a 28âÂÂ26 lead to win the match. Bradford finished April off by hammering Sheffield Eagles 54âÂÂ10.
May 1997
The Bulls were beaten in the Challenge Cup Final by St. Helens for the 2nd time in 2 years as they succumbed to a 32âÂÂ22 defeat, this also marked the Bulls 1st loss of the season. Bradford didn't have to wait long for another crack at the Saints as they play at the home of the Bulls the week after the cup final however this time it was Bradford who took the points in revenge of the final defeat by beating the Saints 38âÂÂ18. The Bulls continued their unbeaten streak in the league with two more wins in May, the first being a 38âÂÂ14 victory against Warrington Wolves and the second being a 42âÂÂ28 decimation of Oldham Bears. The final game in May saw the Bulls take on Halifax Blue Sox at Thrum Hall, Bradford found themselves behind 26âÂÂ6 before going on to win 30âÂÂ26 making it one of the best comebacks in the Super League era.
June 1997
Next up for the Bulls were the newest team in the Super League, the Salford City Reds. Salford put up a good battle but were no match for the Challenge Cup runners up who won 40âÂÂ24. Bradford continued their unbeaten league start at rivals Leeds Rhinos in front of a 19,137 crowd, they beat the Rhinos 32âÂÂ16 and increased their lead at the top of the table. In June the Bulls also participated in the World Club Challenge tournament, first up was the visit of Penrith Panthers, Bradford got off to a great start leading 16âÂÂ6 at halftime but the Panthers came back to clinch the game 20âÂÂ16. Bradford also lost their next two WCC games, a 20âÂÂ16 loss to Auckland Warriors and a 30âÂÂ10 loss to Cronulla Sharks.
July 1997
July started off with a hard fought 34âÂÂ20 win against Castleford Tigers to keep their unbeaten league run intact. The Bulls made it 16 wins out of 16 games with a 38âÂÂ20 effort against Challenge Cup winners St. Helens. Bradford once again beat newcomers Salford City Reds 34âÂÂ14 to stay top of the league. The WCC got even worse for the Bulls as they lost 64âÂÂ14 to Auckland Warriors in the return fixture and also lost 54âÂÂ14 to Penrith Panthers.
August 1997
Bradford faced off against arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos at Odsal in a game which the Bulls were victors beating Leeds 22âÂÂ8. The month got better as they dispatched Sheffield Eagles 32âÂÂ12 and Paris Saint-Germain 68âÂÂ0 which took their winning streak in the league to 20 games. This unbeaten run ended in Round 21 when Wigan Warriors comfortably beat Bradford 33âÂÂ18, then the week after the Bulls lost 28âÂÂ24 against 2nd placed London Broncos. These results however did not affect the Bulls' finishing positions and they finished top of the table becoming the champions of Super League II. The Bulls played their final group game in the WCC losing 40âÂÂ12 against Cronulla Sharks.
September 1997
The Bulls finished off the 1997 English season with a 25âÂÂ12 loss to Castleford Tigers in the Premiership Trophy Quarter-final loss.
October 1997
Bradford had one more game of the season. The quarter final of the World Club Challenge against Auckland Warriors. The Bulls were only losing 20âÂÂ16 at halftime but a great second half from Auckland blew Bradford away and the Bulls lost 62âÂÂ14. The entire tournament was branded as a poor showing as no British teams qualified for the semi-finals.
1997 Stones Bitter Super League
Statistics include appearances and points in the Super League, Premiership, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge.