BATTLING BULLS BOW OUT

Despite a valiant effort, Bradford Bulls fell to a last-gasp 20-16 defeat at the hands of Leigh Centurions that saw our 2022 cup run come to an end.

After an early penalty was awarded, Dec Patton slotted over two, before Kieran Gill went over to extend the early lead.

Leigh hit back before the break, through former Bull Adam Sidlow who crashed over, with Ben Reynolds adding another two soon after to level up the scores.

After the interval, Bradford took the lead once again, through Matty Dawson-Jones in the corner, Dec Patton adding another two from a penalty.

There was late heartbreak however, as Nene Macdonald powered over for Leigh to reduce the arrears, with Ed Chamberlain racing over to secure the victory for the Centurions.

Head Coach John Kear made four changes from last week’s victory over Batley, bringing back Matty Dawson-Jones against his former club.

Bradford started well, with an early penalty being converted by Patton, to give us an early lead.

Patton then sent a long ball out to Gill, who put Millar through with the winger returning the compliment as Gill raced over.

Despite Bradford continuing to give as good as they got, Leigh found themselves over, through Sidlow who touched down underneath the posts.

Reynolds then levelled the scores, after Patton was adjudged to have been offside and Leigh chose the option of two.

Both sides went close early in the second half, but it was Bradford who struck first again, as Dawson-Jones acrobatically scored in the corner, with Caleb Aekins sent to the sin bin for 10 after a professional foul.

Patton then chose to add two points on, after a late hit on Lilley awarded Bradford with a penalty close to the sticks.

Macdonald then crashed over, to bring Leigh back into contention with ten minutes remaining. 

Then came the match winning moment for Leigh, as Brand offloaded to send Chamberlain in for a try, sending Bradford out of the Betfred Challenge Cup in Round 5. 

BRADFORD BULLS – Elliot Kear, Matty Dawson-Jones, Kieran Gil, Aaron Murphy, Ryan Millar, Dec Patton, Jordan Lilley, Ben Evans, Thomas Doyle, Ant Walker, Chester Butler, Sam Scott, Jordan Baldwinson. 

INTERCHANGES – George Flanagan, Ebon Scurr, Rhys Evans, Samy Kibula. 

TRIES 

Kieran Gill, Matty Dawson-Jones 

GOALS 

Dec Patton 2/2 

PENALTY GOALS 

Dec Patton 2/2 

LEIGH CENTURIONS – Caleb Aekins, Kieran Dixon, Nene Macdonald, Ed Chamberlain, Keanan Brand, Ben Reynolds, Joe Mellor, Adam Sidlow, Aaron Smith, Tom Amone, Joe Wardle, Sam Stone, John Asiata. 

INTERCHANGES – Mark Ioane, Ata Hingano, Jacob Jones, Edwin Ipape.

TRIES 

Adam Sidlow, Nene Macdonald, Ed Chamberlain 

GOALS 

Ben Reynolds 3/3 

PENALTY GOALS 

Ben Reynolds 1/1