BULLS OPEN 2023 WITH SIX-TRY SUCCESS

Mark Dunning's Bradford Bulls got off to a winning start in 2023 - courtesy of a 34-16 victory over Dewsbury Rams at the FLAIR Stadium.

Tries from Brad Foster - on debut - and Kieran Gill within the opening quarter set the tone for the visitors, before Dewsbury got in on the act with a score from Lewis Collinson.

Also making his first appearance, Jack Walker was on the end of a break for his first try in Bradford colours before a superb solo effort from youngster Myles Lawford. 

The second half began in the same vein the first ended, with quickfire scores from Joe Arundel - another on debut - and Jordan Lilley extending the Bulls' advantage.

Dewsbury hit back with a couple of late scores but the clash proved a valuable first hit out for a number of new, young and old faces in the Bradford camp. 

Head coach Dunning named five new faces in his starting line-up - Jack Walker, Ben Blackmore, Tom Holmes, Fenton Rogers and Brad Foster - and it was the latter who made an instant impact. 

The former London Broncos man steam rolled his way past three Dewsbury defenders to crash over following a period of Bradford pressure. 

The Bulls continued to probe and Kieran Gill saw a score chalked off for offside - but he didn't have to wait long before registering his first legal try of the year. 

Holmes' neat grubber through was measured perfectly and Gill pounced to continue his impressive try-scoring record in the red, amber and black. 

An error then handed Dewsbury a full set on the Bradford line and Collinson darted through a gap to reduce the arrears.

Reiss Butterworth was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Walker - the full-back shrugged off the attention he was receiving to support a superb break by Kieran Gill and race home from 40 metres. 

On the stroke of half-time, Bradford's lead extended further when from the base of a scrum, Lawford dropped a shoulder and went through the resulting gap in the home defence to dive over unopposed. 

George Flanagan Jr, Joe Arundel and Max Clarke - the latter duo on debut - all entered the fray at half time and it was Arundel, who was in fact making his 'second' debut, who broke the second-half deadlock. 

The industrious Lilley stabbed a neat kick in behind the Dewsbury defence which Arundel gathered to mark his return to the club with a try after just 10 minutes of action. 

Provider then turned scorer when a set play from a scrum saw a gap open up for Lilley, and he took full advantage to dive over. 

A number of younger players made their first appearance for the first team as changes were rung and the Young Bulls battled well as the game headed into the final stages. 

Quickfire consolation scores from Sam Day and James Beckett closed the gap, but didn't spoil a successful first outing of the year for the Bradford Bulls. 

BRADFORD BULLS: Jack Walker, Ben Blackmore, Jayden Myers, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnston, Tom Holmes, Myles Lawford, Fenton Rogers, Jordan Lilley, Brad Foster, AJ Wallace, Brad England, Chester Butler. INTERCHANGES: Joe Arundel, Max Clarke, George Flanagan Jr, Bailey Arnold, Harry Gray, Lewis Camden, Jaden Barraclough, Will Adams, Marcus Green, Kian Fisher, Michael Hoyle, Aidan Scully. 

TRIES: Foster, Gill, Walker, Lawford, Arundel, Lilley.

GOALS: Lawford 5/6