MATCH REPORT | WIDNES VIKINGS (H)

Read all about our final league fixture of the 2022 Betfred Championship season vs Widnes Vikings.

Mark Dunning's men started with intent as they looked to pile the early pressure on former Head Coach John Kear's Widnes Vikings.

Thomas Doyle looked to weave his way through the Widnes line, but his action was halted by the officials as he was deemed to have ran behind his own player.

Widnes took advantage of the resulting penalty as smart play saw Joe Edge cross in the corner.

The visitors dominated proceedings throughout the first 20 minutes, and added another two points from a penalty as discipline cost Bradford within the first half.

Bradford found an opening score before the break however, as a delicate grubber kick in-behind Luis Roberts from Jacob Hookem saw Matty Dawson-Jones acrobatically score.

This left the Widnes advantage at four as the half came to a close, as a late Bradford penalty saw ourselves come close through Jacob Hookem who was involved once again, but time ran out.

Widnes, then extended their lead early on in the second half through Olly Davies who cut a line to race home and touch down.

Unfortunately for us, they crashed over again through Matty Fozard who scooted over from dummy-half.

We never stopped trying, however and a number of penalties allowed us field position, but errors didn't allow for any clean attacking play and chances went begging.

The Vikings then scored again through Ollie Brookes, who slammed the ball down after taking a crash ball close to the line.

On his final ever appearance for Bradford, a moment to remember for the fans and the skipper alike, as in typical fashion Steve Crossley spun his way through two Widnes defenders to score in front of the Odsal faithful he has served for so long.

It wasn't to matter for the result, as Matty Smith tagged on one point with minutes to go to seal the final day victory for Widnes.

Final Score - Bradford Bulls 10 - 23 Widnes Vikings.

Thank you to Steve Crossley for his contributions to this club in his three spells, a special player.

Bradford Bulls - Elliot Kear, Matty Dawson-Jones, Joe Burton, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnston, David Gibbons, Jacob Hookem, Steve Crossley, Thomas Doyle, Ebon Scurr, Aaron Murphy, Brad England, Sam Hallas.

Interchanges - AJ Wallace, Jordan Baldwinson, Marcus Green, Micky Hoyle.

Tries 

Dawson-Jones, Crossley

Goals

Kear 1/2

Widnes Vikings - Matt Fleming, Ollie Brookes, Joe Edge, Luis Roberts, Brad Holroyd, Danny Craven, Matty Smith, Josh Johnson, Matty Fozard, Own Farnworth, Shane Grady, Olly Davies, Callum Field.

Interchanges - Joe Lyons, Liam Bent, Eribe Doro, Adam Lawton.

Tries

Edge, Davies, Fozard, Brookes

Goals

Edge 2/3 Smith 0/1

Drop Goals

Smith 1/1

Penalty Goals 

Edge 1/1