BULLS BATTLE BACK TO WINNING WAYS

A fast start laid the platform as Bradford Bulls returned to winning ways with a 36-24 victory over Barrow Raiders at Bartercard Odsal yesterday.

Eamon O’Carroll was able to call upon the services of Lee Gaskell for the first time since Round One, with Jayden Myers and Chester Butler also returning following injuries. 

And it was the latter who made an instant impression, barging over from close range to open the scoring. 

The Bulls were building pressure and on the back of a second goal line drop out, Myers produced a superb offload in the right corner to give Jayden Okunbor a simple dot down in the corner. 

The home side were rampant and it was a familiar face who crossed for Bradford’s third try. 

Okunbor was again involved as he leapt highest to collect Gaskell’s kick, he offloaded to Zac Fulton – who scored his ninth try in just his ninth appearance. 

The boot of Gaskell then forced a third goal line drop out, but despite the ball not going the required 10 metres, a Bradford man collected it on the full, handing Barrow a pressure relieving penalty. 

The visitors took advantage, when a kick on the last tackle ricocheted off a number of players fortuitously into the path of Max Clarke who touched down. 

Ryan Shaw scored before the break to reduce the arrears further, before a penalty on the hooter brought Barrow within four points. 

O’Carroll’s side started the second half in the same vein they did the first and quickly set about re-establishing their previous advantage. 

A swift move between hands on the right sent Myers crashing through the Raiders defence, swatting off Shane Toal to score on his return to the side. 

It wasn’t long before he got his second either, when Fulton raced clear on the right, finding Gaskell on his inside, who gave Myers an easy stroll in. 

On the 56^th minute, Eribe Doro was sent off for an alleged infringement in the ruck and the Raiders’ numerical advantage immediately paid dividends when Broadbent scored in the right corner. 

The Bulls showed superb resilience and on their next attacking foray, Kieran Gill stepped his way past his opposite number to score and put the game beyond the Raiders’ reach. 

Ellis Gillam would cross for Barrow before the finish, but that try was sandwiched by two Jordan Lilley penalties to hand Bradford a deserved, hard fought two points. 

BRADFORD BULLS: Tom Holmes, Jayden Okunbor, Jayden Myers, Kieran Gill, Aidan McGowan, Lee Gaskell, Jordan Lilley, Eribe Doro, Mitch Souter, Fenton Rogers, John Davies, Zac Fulton, Keven Appo. INTERCHANGES: Ebon Scurr, Tyran Ott, John Davies, Jordan Baldwinson. 18^th Man: Eliot Peposhi. 

TRIES: Butler, Okunbor, Fulton, Myers (2), Gill

GOALS: Lilley 6/8