RESERVES RALLY TO SEE OFF SALFORD

Leigh Beattie’s Reserves produced a superb display at Horsfall Stadium to beat Salford Red Devils 38-28 in a pulsating encounter on Saturday.

The visitors raced out of the blocks to open the scoring when a sweeping move from left to right sent George Charnock over in the corner.

After a powerful run by Aidan Scully, Jaden Barraclough’s scoot from dummy half then handed Bradford the advantage on seven minutes. 

Two more Bradford tries followed in the opening quarter, with Mckenzie Scurr the beneficiary on both occasions, dotting down after a flowing move through hands. Salford responded through Matthew Unsworth in a period that saw Bradford twice reduced to 12 men, but a Bailey Arnold try before the break restored the Bulls’ two-score advantage. 

After the break, Fijian Adrea Vasuitoga scored on debut to extend the home side’s lead before back-to-back Salford scores set up a tense final quarter. 

Anthony Dyne pierced a hole in the Devils defence to re-establish Bradford’s advantage but back came the Devils to reduce the arrears to four heading into the final 10 minutes. 

But the Bulls ended the clash the stronger and Scurr grabbed his hat-trick in style, dancing around his opposite number to seal the win.

BRADFORD BULLS RESERVES: George Flanagan Jnr, Adrea Vasuitoga, Will Adams, Todd Horner, McKenzie Scurr, Harry Milnes, Liam Coe, Marcus Green, Jaden Barraclough, Bailey Arnold, Anthony Dyne, Aidan Scully, Harry Gray. INTERCHANGES: Lewis Magson, Joe Kellett, Sam Ackroyd, Lachlan Holmes. 18th MAN: Kiernan Tierney

TRIES: Scurr (3), Vasuitoga, Dyne, Arnold

GOALS: Flanagan 4/6