This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2003 season, the 8th season of the Super League era.
February 2003
The season started off well for the Bulls as they beat Warrington Wolves 38âÂÂ12 in the 4th Round of the Challenge Cup. Bradford's start to the league campaign was shocking as they were hammered 46âÂÂ22 by the 2002 champions St Helens R.F.C.
March 2003
Bradford continued their run in the Challenge Cup with an 82âÂÂ0 victory over lower league Hunslet Hawks with Lesley Vainikolo grabbing a hat-trick. The Bulls got their 1st win of their league campaign with a hard-fought 22âÂÂ10 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Bradford progressed to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup by beating Widnes Vikings 38âÂÂ28 in the quarter-final. The Bulls got their first back to back wins of the season with an outstanding 62âÂÂ22 victory against Halifax Blue Sox, both James Lowes and Robbie Paul both grabbed hat-tricks. Bradford finished the month off with a hard-fought 26âÂÂ18 win against Widnes Vikings.
April 2003
The Bulls continued their run of form by opening April with a comfortable 32âÂÂ8 win over Warrington Wolves. Bradford progressed to the Challenge Cup Final as they beat Wigan Warriors 36âÂÂ22 in the semi-final. The Bulls great league form continued with a 48âÂÂ24 win over Hull FC. Bradford's month came to a spectacular end as they beat rivals Leeds Rhinos 22âÂÂ20 to win the Challenge Cup. Tries from Robbie Paul, Jamie Peacock and Tevita Vaikona helped the Bulls win their 2nd Challenge Cup in the Super League era.
May 2003
The Bulls followed their Challenge Cup win with a hard-fought 14âÂÂ8 win against Wigan Warriors. The Bulls good form continued with a hard-fought 30âÂÂ10 win against Castleford Tigers which was made even harder when Leon Pryce was sent off. Bradford recorded a huge win as they beat Huddersfield Giants 52âÂÂ6 with Robbie Paul scoring a hat-trick. The Bulls finished May with an impressive 48âÂÂ22 win against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos.
June 2003
Bradford started June with an unfortunate 22âÂÂ12 loss to London Broncos with Dennis Moran tearing the Bulls apart and scoring a hat-trick. The Bulls got back to winning ways as they edged out Hull F.C. to win the game 26âÂÂ20. Bradford once again came away with the 2 points as they beat Warrington Wolves 24âÂÂ20. The Bulls came crashing back to earth as Wigan Warriors beat them 35âÂÂ22. Bradford then were demolished 35âÂÂ0 by St Helens R.F.C. at the end of the month.
July 2003
The Bulls started July with a 30âÂÂ18 win against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to get the Bulls back to winning ways. Bradford backed this win up with a 60âÂÂ12 victory over Halifax Blue Sox. The Bulls continued their fine form with a 40âÂÂ8 win against Widnes Vikings. The streak continued with a 40âÂÂ20 win over Castleford Tigers and then a 60âÂÂ6 win against London Broncos where Leon Pryce scored 4 tries.
August 2003
Bradford continued their form into August as they beat Huddersfield Giants 30âÂÂ16 and then followed this up by beating Leeds Rhinos 18âÂÂ16 at Headingley Stadium. The Bulls also beat Hull F.C. 36âÂÂ22 in the middle of the month before losing 26âÂÂ12 to Wigan Warriors. Bradford bounced back and hammered London Broncos 54âÂÂ12 with Paul Deacon becoming the highest point scorer for the Bulls in the Super League era as he booted over his 400th goal for the club.
September 2003
Bradford started September with a very narrow 22âÂÂ21 win against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos, the Bulls won thanks to 2 drop goals from scum-half Paul Deacon. In the run up to the end of the season Bradford lost 28âÂÂ14 to Castleford Tigers. The Bulls finished the regular rounds with a 22âÂÂ18 win over St Helens R.F.C. which meant that Bradford finished top of the league ahead of Leeds Rhinos.
October 2003
The Bulls beat arch rivals Leeds Rhinos 30âÂÂ14 in the Qualifying Semi-final to reach the 2003 Grand Final, in the process Paul Deacon became the first person to score 1,000 points for the Bradford Bulls in the Super League era. A couple of weeks later the Bulls would once again face Wigan Warriors in a Grand Final, the Bradford side won 25âÂÂ12 after Shontayne Hape, Stuart Reardon and James Lowes (in his last game for the Bulls) all scored tries whilst Paul Deacon kicked 6 goals and a drop goal to make the Bulls Super League champions for a 3rd time.
2003 Tetley's Super League