BULLS IN FINAL DAY DEFEAT

Bradford Bulls head into the Betfred Championship play-offs on the back of a 36-22 defeat at the hands of the in-form Whitehaven RLFC yesterday afternoon.

The home side, buoyed by 5,340 in attendance at Odsal Stadium, enjoyed a dream start to proceedings when Ben Evans and Aaron Murphy went over for early scores. 

David Foggin-Johnston then dived in at the corner to extend Bradford’s lead before a quickfire double before the break brought Haven back into the match. 

After the interval, a second half blitz from Whitehaven took the gamer away from Bradford, as McNally, Taylor and Jouffret all scored from breaks. 

Lachlan Walmsley then found his way over after Jouffret knocked a smart ball over the Bradford defence before Evans grabbed his second for the hosts with the final score of the afternoon. 

John Kear named an unchanged side for the final regular Championship game of the season, as Elliot Kear made his second home debut since joining the club. 

Not for the first time this season, Evans executed a one-on-one ball steal before racing home from 20 metres to break the deadlock. 

Murphy then crashed over from close range to extend the lead early on. 

After a scrappy period, the ball was floated out to Foggin-Johnston who acrobatically went over to give the Bulls a comfortable lead. 

Whitehaven, hit back before the break as Walker and Jouffret went over with minutes remaining to bring them back within four. 

After the break, things went from bad to worse as Whitehaven crossed for another quick-fire double through McNally and Taylor, both going over next to the posts. 

The scoring continued, as Jouffret grabbed his second after a break in the middle of the park. 

Walmsley then collected a smart kick over to touch down underneath the posts. 

Ben Evans got one back before the hooter, but it wasn’t to be enough for Bradford as they lose out on the final day.

BRADFORD BULLS TRIES 

B. Evans (2) Murphy, Foggin-Johnston 

GOALS 

Brough 2/3 Hallas 1/1 

WHITEHAVEN TRIES 

Walker, Jouffret (2), Taylor, Walmsley, McNally 

GOALS 

Walmsley 6/6 

PENALTY GOALS 

Walmsley 1/2 

BRADFORD BULLS – Elliot Kear, Joe Brown, Rhys Evans, Ross Oakes, David Foggin-Johnston, Danny Brough, Jordan Lilley, Bev Evans, Thomas Doyle, Steve Crossley, Brad England, Aaron Murphy, Samuel Hallas. 

INTERCHANGES – George Flanagan, Dan Fleming, Ant Walker, Eldon Myers. 

WHITEHAVEN RLFC – Gregg McNally, Andrew Bulman, Chris Taylor, Jason Mossop, Lachlan Walmsley, Louis Joffret, Nikau Williams, Andy Thornley, James Newton, Guy Graham, Ryan King, Liam Cooper, Tom Wilkinson. 

INTERCHANGES – Dion Aiye, Tom Walker, Jake Bradley, Andrew Dawson.

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