LILLEY'S LAST GASP DROP GOAL SEALS THIRD

A last-minute drop goal from Jordan Lilley secured a 17-16 victory over Sheffield Eagles last night - and a third placed finish!

The Bulls came into this vital clash with the high-flying Eagles knowing a win would guarantee them a home play-off, and third place in the regular season.

Ben Blackmore thought he’d raced in for an early opening score against his former side, but Tom Holmes’ bullet pass was called forward by the referee.

Bradford did open the scoring, however with Tom Holmes instrumental again, as his short ball saw Joe Arundel cross the line, with the wind blowing Jordan Lilley’s conversion wide.

Lee Greenwood’s men piled more pressure on the Eagles line, but after Lee Gaskell’s kick was collected, the Eagles went 90m and QLT crossed the whitewash, Cory Aston edging Sheffield in-front.

A short double pump pass from Jordan Lilley at the Eagles line saw Chester Butler cross, however another forward pass call meant that Mark Aston’s men would survive once more.

However, on the hooter, their own chance to spread the ball would cost them dear, as an attempted pass to Ben Jones-Bishop was fumbled and gratefully gounded by Liam Tindall, leaving us 6-8 to the good at the break.

Straight after the re-start, some barnstorming runs from Fenton Rogers saw him lay the platform for Kevin Appo to storm onto a crash ball, and offload for Jordan Lilley to cross the line, extending our lead to 6-14.

Sheffield would drag themselves back into the game, through Ben Jones-Bishop who crossed in the corner.

As we probed the Eagles’ line again, Eribe Doro was taken late and off the ball, which gave Jordan Lilley the opportunity to push us six points in-front, which he did from his boot.

Former Bull Matty Dawson-Jones then raced in at the corner, however we would still hold the lead as Jack Hansen missed his conversion attempt.

While in possession, with minutes to go, a loose ball saw a Bradford man pick it up from an offside position and concede a penalty in front of the sticks, Jack Hansen duly obliging from the boot to level us at 16-16.

Then came the match winning moment, as we’ve seen so many times before from the man with the magic hat.

Jordan Lilley’s restart wasn’t gathered by Sheffield, and we reclaimed possession and then set ourselves up, the pass finding the latter who slotted over one point to seal third spot, and a home play-off tie for the Bradford Bulls vs York City Knights.

BRADFORD BULLS – Tom Holmes, Ben Blackmore, Kieran Gill, Joe Arundel, Liam Tindall, Lee Gaskell, Jordan Lilley, Michael Lawrence, Billy Jowitt, Masi Matongo, Chester Butler, AJ Wallace, Eribe Doro.

INTERCHANGES – Connor Wynne, Ebon Scurr, Keven Appo, Fenton Rogers.

TRIES

Arundel, Tindall, Lilley

GOALS

Lilley 2/4 Gaskell 0/1

PENALTY GOALS

Lilley 1/1

DROP GOALS

Lilley 1/1