HARD FOUGHT WIN ROUNDS OFF PRE-SEASON

BRADFORD Bulls rounded off their 2021 pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 22-18 win over fierce rivals Keighley Cougars this afternoon.

The Bulls came out firing and took the lead early on, through Thomas Doyle - who burrowed his way over before the influential Danny Brough got his first try in Bradford colours.

Keighley, who grew into the game then hit back with a quick-fire double before the break, Charlie Graham and Billy Gaylor both scoring within five minutes. 

After the break, normal service resumed as Ross Oakes got his second try in two games before Trialist Anthony Walker’s close-range effort.

The visitors reduced the arrears with five minutes to go through Graham, but Bradford held out to claim the win. 

Rhys Evans made his first appearance of 2021 as John Kear named a 24-man squad in the final warm-up clash ahead of next week’s cup clash with Featherstone Rovers.

Another fast start by Kear’s side saw them establish an early lead - as the first time they troubled the Keighley line, they found themselves over with hooker Doyle battling his way over for the opening score.

Bradford then extended their lead soon after, with Brough turning scorer this time the former Wakefield man twisting and turning past a scrambling Keighley defence.

Reece Hamlett saw a maiden try in Bradford colours ruled out for a forward pass as the home side ramped up the pressure on the visiting Cougars. 

The visitors grew into the game and found themselves over the try line through Graham, who raced home from halfway after picking up a loose ball.

Keighley then levelled the game before the break, half-back Gaylor supporting a break to score to the right of the posts.

In what was a story of the start of both halves, the Bulls scored early on again, Oakes taking a short ball from Brandon Pickersgill to score his second in two games.

Trialist Walker also added to his superb display with a try during the second period, with Brough providing the pass for him to barge over.

Keighley, who had been on the back foot for most of the second half, found themselves over with Graham grabbing his second with five minutes to go, although it was to be no more than a consolation as the Bulls rounded off their condensed pre-season schedule with a win.

BRADFORD Bulls: Brandon Pickersgill, Reece Hamlett, Rhys Evans, Ross Oakes, Elliot Wallis, Joe Brown, Danny Brough, Dan Fleming, Thomas Doyle, Anthony Walker, Brad Gallgher, Brad England, Adam Rooks.

INTERCHANGES: Steve Crossley, George Flanagan, Ebon Scurr, Levy Nzoungou, David Foggin-Johnston, Bradley Ho, Jack Sanderson, Joe Burton, Billy Jowitt, Brad Calland, Jordan Lilley.

TRIES – Doyle, Brough, Oakes, Walker

GOALS – Brough 2/3 Jowitt 1/1

KEIGHLEY Cougars: Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e, Mo Agoro, Taylor Prell, Charlie Graham, Robert Matamosi, Billy Gaylor, Jack Miller, Dan Hawksworth, Ryan Wright, Brenden Santi, Jason Muranka, Dan Parker, Kieran Moran.

INTERCHANGES: Jack Coventry, Kyle Kesik, Dalton Desmond-Walker, Aaron Levy, Alfie Seely, Alix Stephenson, Matthew Bailey, Ben Stead, Bobby Derbyshire, Jack Arnold, Zach Braham, Morgan Robinson, Aiden Scully, Phoenix Laula-Togaga’e, Josh Slingsby.

TRIES – Graham (2), Gaylor.

Arnold 2/2 Seeley 1/1