BULLS CLOSE PRE-SEASON AT HEADINGLEY

?Bradford Bulls’ 2023 pre-season came to a close with a 24-10 defeat against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium.

The home side, Grand Finalists in 2022, started fast with a try from Leon Ruan before Joe Arundel got his second in as many games for the Bulls after a period of pressure. 

Morgan Gannon responded swiftly for the home side before a Richie Myler score on the hooter.

Joe Gibbons extended the home side’s lead soon after the interval but Bradford grew into the contest as the game wore on.

George Flanagan Snr received an offload and dived over the line before son George Flanagan Jnr saw a late score chalked off.

Bodene Thompson, Josh Johnson and George Roby were all handed debuts by Mark Dunning - with Dec Patton and Flanagan Sr making their first appearances of pre-season.

 
The home side enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening 10 minutes and were the first to break the deadlock when Ruan was put through a gap.

Bradford responded well and after Kieran Gill saw a try disallowed for a forward pass - a spell of unrelenting pressure told.

The lively Jack Walker created uncertainty in the Rhinos’ ranks and Arundel benefitted to reduce the arrears.

An inventive short kick off saw Leeds back in possession and back over the try line when an offload from Sam Walters put Gannon over.

Bradford continued to front up in defence and force errors from the home side but it would be Leeds to add to their tally before the interval.

A break from deep ended up in the hands of Myler who touched down on the hooter.

As the game drew on in the second half, a raft of changes from both sides saw young blood introduced.

One of the Rhinos’ young blood was next to score, Gibbons diving over.

Bradford continue to battle and got their rewards on 69 minutes - Flanagan Snr with an acrobatic effort in front of the Western Terrace housing the Bulls supporters.

The away side were buoyed and set about ending the game in Leeds’ territory - Flanagan Jnr thought he’d added to his dad’s earlier score but play was brought back for an alleged knock on.

That was all she wrote and Bradford’s productive 2023 pre-season came to a close, with all eyes now on the visit of Whitehaven in Round One next Sunday.

BRADFORD BULLS: Jack Walker, Ben Blackmore, Joe Arundel, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnston, Dec Patton, Tom Holmes, Fenton Rogers, Jordan Lilley, Brad Foster, Bodene Thompson, AJ Wallace, Chester Butler. INTERCHANGES: George Flanagan Snr, George Flanagan Jnr, Myles Lawford, Jaden Barraclough, Josh Johnson, Max Clarke, George Roby, Marcus Green, Jayden Myers.

TRIES: Arundel, Flanagan Snr
GOALS: Flanagan Jnr 1/1