By PHIL CAPLAN
WALKING UP Rooley Lane towards the Top House pub – or Mary Shaw’s as locals know it- a hint of spring was in the air and – despite the wind blowing in all four directions simultaneously – so too was an unfamiliar smell.
Not so much liniment, from the days when those of us old enough to remember when the dressing rooms were housed at the top of the bowl and teams had to come out 20 minutes before kick off to make their way through the backslapping crowd, but the unmistakable odour of cannabis. So, a different sort of feelgood factor in the Odsal air.
This was the first match in the supposed ‘mini table’, for the sides expected to be at the bottom of Super League, and between two of the three promoted. By its conclusion the trio would sit above halfway with two wins each.
At this early stage of the return of the Bulls to the top table after 12 years away, it’s Bullmania ‘lite’. But those heady days are never far away: a picture of the last grand final-winning side from 2005 up in the ticket collection office. If a reminder was needed.
There’s an effort at Craven Streat behind the main stand with varied food outlets, a community teams parade before the game (not so much on classic cars or chariots as before just a walk round and wave to parents), two sides of the ground populated.
Theme tunes for all the Bradford players as they are announced are back: Andy Ackers apparently Murder on the Dancefloor, and a good smattering of kids with their faces painted.
The announcer welcomes the visitors in French – a nice touch – going on to say: “It’s really not the same if you’re not at the game, get here if you can.”
Martin Vickers, most recently ex-Featherstone CEO, is in the corporate rooms helping out, saying that this is the second game in succession that around £60,000 has been generated.
There are fireworks to welcome the teams and expectations among the home fans. Fifteen minutes in, there are the first strains of “Wully Bully” on the tannoy as Rowan Milnes puts over a penalty.
By half-time, when the old Pearl and Dean cinema theme comes on, the hosts lead 10-2, and as strains of “Come on You Bulls” ring out from the terraces for the first time in earnest. Just after the break, Ethan Ryan acrobatically twists himself to gather a high ball for the middle touchdown of a genuine hat trick.
As the sides troop off to “Penny Arcade“, the hosts have consecutive wins and there are big smiles among the faithful.
Bulls’ new head coach Kurt Haggerty says: “It was long, scrappy, messy but it’s good to come out on the other side and win those games. We were resilient and can win ugly.
“Toulouse are a dogged and gritty team. We had to be patient and we’ve got to continue to do that all through the season.”
Ryan and particularly his centre Waqa Blake, who has started the season in fine form, take the plaudits, not quite yet Shontayne Hape and Lesley Vainikolo.
“The left edge are rugby players, you get them the ball and let them play. They are both big bodies and carry the ball strong.”
There’s the story of Brandon Douglas who has waited 10 years between his Super League appearances, his last with Castleford.
“When he started pre-season he looked like a Championship player and he finished it like a Super League one,” notes Haggerty, who has seen his side claim back-to-back home wins.
“If I’m honest, I was really nervous about how we’d play at Odsal but I think we’ve shown in the first couple of games that we’ve still got the attitude and bravery to play rugby.
“We’ve had to change it slightly with regard to our offloads. When you run out of space you have to lay down and play the ball.
“It’s about learning where we can and can’t play. They’re also coming to terms with my style and we’ve barely trained here. I think we’ve had two sessions in three months.”
He’s keen to acknowledge the start made by all the promoted clubs. “It’s great to see, it strengthens the competition and it looks like it’s going to be competitive.
“The group believe they can compete. We’ve got enough senior blokes who’ve achieved a lot at Super League level and it becomes infectious when you win. We’re learning on the go a little bit.”
Opposite number Sylvain Houles is not so much downcast as resigned to how the game went. “It’s always hard to come here, you have to play a different rugby because of the pitch and they know how to play it – I haven’t won many times here,” he says sanguinely.
“We felt a little bit like today we went back to the Championship. I was not as excited as like the first two rounds. The game was stop and slow. Odsal is different, it’s a battle.”
He’s right, it’s been a decent start but much bigger tests for both are to come.