This season, the Spinners have gone through a period of rebuilding, which has been reflected in a torrid start to their season, ten games played and ten defeats, before Saturday’s fixture. However, the Lancashire side have been boosted in recent weeks with the additions of Harold Trobo, Oliver Ladlow and Allie Fullah, the latter only being announced on the morning of the game.
Meanwhile, the Dragons were coming into the game on the back of an accomplished victory against Reading Rockets, in the Dragons’ Den the previous weekend.
Bradford’s Latvian forward, Rihards Šulcs (sponsored by Templewood Photography) opened the scoring for the visitors, with only thirty seconds played, however the scores were immediately levelled by Lancashire’s new boy, Fullah, down the other end.
The game continued to follow a similar pattern, with one team’s lead being cancelled out by the opposition. But, with three and a half minutes of the opening period remaining Fullah stepped up again to give his side the first clear lead of the game (17-13), prompting the Bradford coach, Chris Mellor, to call for time.
Whatever he said to his players, clearly had the desired effect, as the Dragons closed out the quarter with a seven-point advantage (19-26).
Aristide Baka pulled two points back for the hosts, straight from the restart but, a three from Marcus Gooding (sponsored by Gooding Funeral Services) quickly restored Bradford’s cushion.