Bradford Bulls clinch 28-10 win over Catalans Dragons in first home Super League match in 12 years as club unveils Curti Lifts partnership
The bradford bulls secured a 28-10 victory over Catalans Dragons in their first top-flight home match in 12 years, a win underpinned by two tries from Waqa Blake and a strong first-half performance. The club also announced a new commercial partnership with Curti Lifts and renewed an existing deal with a long-term match ball sponsor ahead of the homecoming fixture.
What happened and what’s new
The match ended 28-10 to the home side. Tries for the winners came from Andy Ackers, Waqa Blake (two), and Caleb Aekins, while Rowan Milnes contributed with multiple goal kicks that built an early lead. Bradford went into half-time with a 24-0 advantage after a sequence that included three penalty goals and converted tries. Catalans mounted a second-half response with tries from Solomona Faataape and Toby Sexton, but Blake’s second score late in the period restored the home side’s cushion and helped close out the game.
Key match incidents included a disallowed try for a Catalans forward that was overturned by the video referee and another disallowed score later in the second half. The winning performance featured a dominant opening 40 minutes from the home team and a resilient defensive effort when the visitors pushed back after half-time.
Off the field, the club confirmed a commercial partnership with Curti Lifts for the Super League season, with Curti Lifts’ branding scheduled to appear on the club’s new LED pitchside boards starting with the Catalans fixture. The club also renewed its season-long match ball sponsorship with Expect Distribution, which will continue its matchday presence and longstanding pre-game tradition involving the club’s match ball delivery truck.
Bradford Bulls: Behind the headline
The result combines sporting and commercial momentum for the club. On the field, a high-scoring first half established a platform that the team defended when the visitors sought to turn the match. Post-match comments from the head coach highlighted enjoyment of the first-half performance and noted defensive resilience despite second-half sloppiness. A player singled out the night as evidence of the team’s intent to compete at top-flight level and urged continued performance growth across the season.
Commercially, the new partnership with Curti Lifts aligns a locally based business with the club’s return to the top tier and provides matchday visibility through LED pitchside branding. The renewal with the match ball sponsor preserves an established matchday ritual that has become part of the club’s public face on game nights.
What we still don’t know
- Exact attendance figures for the match are not provided in the available information.
- Financial terms and length of the Curti Lifts partnership beyond its presence for the upcoming season are not disclosed.
- Specific long-term commercial strategy or additional partner activations tied to the Curti Lifts deal are not detailed.
- Whether any squad changes or injury updates followed this match are not confirmed.
- Plans for further matchday entertainment beyond the referenced performance are not fully outlined.
What happens next
- Consolidation: The team focuses on building on the first-half template demonstrated here; trigger — coaching staff retain the same selection and tactical approach in forthcoming fixtures.
- Commercial activation: Curti Lifts begins visible matchday and off-field branding roll-out; trigger — activation appears on the new LED pitchside boards at home fixtures.
- Competitive response: Opponents adjust to the home side’s attacking patterns, prompting tactical tweaks; trigger — subsequent matches show rotated defensive schemes or personnel changes.
- Partnership expansion: The club and Curti Lifts explore deeper community or hospitality collaborations if initial engagement metrics are positive; trigger — announcements of community initiatives or extended sponsorship commitments.
- Damage limitation: If second-half sloppiness recurs, coaching staff may prioritise ball security and defensive drills; trigger — public comments from coaching staff about addressing errors and training focus adjustments follow future matches.
Why it matters
For supporters and the local community, the match represented a milestone return to top-tier home action and delivered a convincing result that helps shape early-season momentum. On-field success in a high-profile homecoming strengthens the club’s competitive credibility as it navigates the Super League season, while commercial deals announced around the fixture improve matchday presentation and create revenue opportunities tied to the club’s elevated profile.
Near-term implications include heightened expectations for performance consistency, immediate visibility for partners through new pitchside branding, and preservation of established matchday traditions. The combination of a landmark victory and fresh commercial partnerships sets a tone that the club can leverage for sporting and business objectives as the season progresses.
