BULLS SEE OFF PANTHERS

A resilient Bradford Bulls beat Halifax Panthers 29-10 at Bartercard Odsal Stadium last night for our first league win of the season.

Eamon O’Carroll was able to name Joe Arundel and Eribe Doro following their respective absences, with new recruits Tyran Ott and Zac Fulton joining loanees Max Wood and Connor Carr in making their debuts.

Under the lights in front of a raucous crowd at Bartercard Odsal Stadium, the home side got off to the perfect start. 

Jordan Lilley’s kick across the face of the posts found its way to Jayden Myers, who dotted down for the game’s opening score.

Halifax grew into the game and spent the majority of the next 20 minutes camped in Bradford territory, and despite some resilient defence from the Bulls, the visitors would eventually break through.

Matty Gee burst onto a flat ball from Jouffret to run in unopposed, before James Woodburn-Hall scored off a neat move on the left soon after to take Halifax into the lead.

Bradford’s second real foray into the visitors’ 20 led to the home side’s second try – with Mitch Souter dummying, darting and barging his way over for a half-time lead.

An early penalty in the second half saw Lilley nudge the Bulls further ahead before a key moment in the contest provided a crucial 12-point swing. 

Halifax looked certain to score from a break in the right corner but Aidan McGowan superbly got across to stop the rampaging Woodburn-Hall. 

Having forced an error, Bradford were back in possession and less than a minute after McGowan’s tackle, Max Wood dived over for a debut score following superb work from the impressive Daniel Smith.

The Bulls, now with a two-score lead, were handed the opportunity to make it a 12-point lead with a penalty under the posts. Lilley obliged.

The next set saw Bradford once again work their way up field and Lilley does what Lilley does, dropping a goal to extend our advantage.

And the home side weren’t done there. A break by the influential John Davies led to Zac Fulton diving over for his first try on debut for the Bulls to cap off an impressive night’s work.

BRADFORD BULLS: Aidan McGowan, Jayden Myers, Joe Arundel, Kieran Gill, Connor Carr, John Davies, Jordan Lilley, Eribe Doro, Mitch Souter, Daniel Smith, Zac Fulton, Chester Butler, Sam Hallas. INTERCHANGES: Max Wood, Keven Appo, Tyran Ott, Harvey Wilson.

TRIES: Myers, Souter, Wood, Fulton

GOALS: Lilley 6/6

DROP GOAL: Lilley

Attendance: 3,853