This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 1999 season, the 4th season of the Super League era.
February 1999
The Bulls kicked off their 1999 season with a huge bang as they thrashed Workington Town 92âÂÂ0 in the Challenge Cup. They progressed through to the quarter-finals by defeating Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26âÂÂ8.
March 1999
Bradford won their first Super League game of the year 18âÂÂ6 against Sheffield Eagles. The Bulls progressed to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup by beating Warrington Wolves 52âÂÂ16. Bradford's winning streak continued with an 8âÂÂ3 win over Hull Sharks. Bradford's first loss of the season came in the Challenge Cup semi-final as they were beaten 23âÂÂ10 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 18âÂÂ14 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 58âÂÂ14 loss to St. Helens. However they soon got their season back on track with a 26âÂÂ16 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at home, they followed this win with another victory, this time a 22âÂÂ14 win away at Warrington Wolves. Bradford finished the month with a 20âÂÂ2 win against fellow Yorkshire team Halifax Blue Sox.
May 1999
Bradford kicked May off with an 18âÂÂ18 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 46âÂÂ6 victory, soon after the Bulls beat Gateshead Thunder 22âÂÂ12 at the Thunderdome. In one of the Bulls best performances of the year they beat Wigan Warriors 19âÂÂ2, keeping the Super League champions try less. Bradford's dominance throughout May ended with a 22âÂÂ20 win against Huddersfield Giants.
June 1999
Bradford kicked off June with an outstanding 52âÂÂ2 win against Sheffield Eagles. The Bulls great run of form continued with an astonishing 74âÂÂ12 win against London Broncos at Odsal Stadium, however they were soon brought to a low as they crashed to a 45âÂÂ16 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 46âÂÂ22 ensuring that they stayed at the top of the league.
July 1999
The Bulls beat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 36âÂÂ8 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 26âÂÂ0 winners. Bradford's good run of results continued with an outstanding 56âÂÂ6 win against Warrington Wolves. They travelled to Halifax and beat them 34âÂÂ20 in a tough match to make sure their status as league leaders was intact, this continued with a 24âÂÂ22 win against Castleford Tigers. The next match saw the Bulls beat London Broncos 19âÂÂ16 in a hard fought game at Welford Road.
August 1999
Bradford started off August with a comprehensive 58âÂÂ20 win over Salford City Reds. Gateshead Thunder was the next to lose in the Bulls run of impressive victories as Bradford beat them 30âÂÂ14. Bradford's long run of successive wins was brought to and end as Wigan Warriors beat the Bulls 14âÂÂ0 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 52âÂÂ4. Bradford then beat Hull Sharks 44âÂÂ12 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 19âÂÂ18 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 25âÂÂ16 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 40âÂÂ4 with Henry Paul pulling the strings and contributing by scoring 2 tries. However Saints were to get their revenge as they beat Bradford 8âÂÂ6 in a hard fought Grand Final with Henry Paul scoring all 6 of Bradford's points.
1999 JJB Sports Super League