BATTLING BULLS BOOK SEMI SPOT

Bradford Bulls booked a play-off semi final trip to Toulouse with a 22-8 victory over York Knights in front of a raucous crowd at Odsal Stadium last night.

Bradford went into the game on the back of successive wins over London Broncos and Sheffield Eagles to finish third, while York won 10 out of their final 11 fixtures to snatch sixth place at the final hurdle. 

York had won the two side’s last meeting three weeks prior, and the visitors took advantage of ill discipline from the Bulls to put two points on the scoreboard early on. 

That 2 point advantage was extended to 8, when Jesse Dee’s storming effort was sent to the video referee as a try, which after a lengthy check, was confirmed. 

The Bulls then rallied, with the introduction of the impressive interchange trio Fenton Rogers, Eribe Doro and Keven Appo. 

The former crashed onto a short ball near the York line to power over to bring the scores back to 6-8.

Odsal was rocking soon after, when King Kev burst through three would be tacklers to take the lead for the first time. 

The home side emerged out of the sheds with a 12-8 advantage and that soon became 18-8 with a superb passage of play. 

Doro broke the York line and found Jordan Lilley supporting, who in turn, found Tom Holmes who finished with ease. 

Jordan Lilley’s boot then kicked Bradford into a 12-point lead, then a 14-point lead to take the game away from York, who chanced their arm to no avail. 

BRADFORD BULLS: Tom Holmes, Ben Blackmore, Joe Arundel, Kieran Gill, Jorge Taufua, Lee Gaskell, Jordan Lilley, Michael Lawrence, George Flanagan Snr, Masi Matongo, AJ Wallace, Chester Butler, Jason Baitieri. INTERCHANGES: Connor Wynne, Fenton Rogers, Keven Appo, Eribe Doro. 

TRIES: Rogers, Appo, Holmes

GOALS: Lilley (5/5)