BACK-TO-BACK BULLS CLIMB TO THIRD

Bradford Bulls made it back-to-back wins and climbed to third in the Betfred Championship - courtesy of a 36-8 success over Newcastle Thunder at Odsal Stadium yesterday.

TEAM NEWS

Billy Jowitt and David Foggin-Johnston returned to the matchday squad in place of James Segeyaro (injury) and Jorge Taufua (suspension). Eribe Doro made his debut off the interchange bench.

FIRST HALF ACTION

The Bulls came into the game looking to build on an impressive showing at Batley last time out, and after a tactical opening ten minutes, took the lead through George Flanagan Snr. 

Bradford broke on the right and Joe Arundel raced through a gap in the Newcastle defence before finding Flanagan on his inside, who celebrated his new one-year deal with an effort from 40 metres. 

It didn’t take long for the Bulls to extend their advantage, when two members of the Cas Bus combined on the left edge.

Jordan Lilley’s high kick was palmed backwards by a leaping Kieran Gill straight into the arms of Tom Holmes, who dived over. 

Newcastle would reduce the arrears soon after, when Robert Tuliatu broke out of a tackle and stretched to score. 

But the Bulls would trouble the scoreboard once more before the break, Lee Gaskell putting Arundel through a gap and he strolled in unopposed.

SECOND HALF ACTION

Bradford raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half and scored their fourth try in some style. 

Keven Appo went on one of his rampaging runs before producing a superb offload for the supporting Jordan Lilley to score. 

Newcastle hit back through Alex Clegg but that was as good as it got for the visitors. 

Pressure on the Thunder line told as the influential Lilley grubbered through for Gill to score his 20th try of the season.

The final act came via Flanagan Snr in typical fashion. He dummied and burrowed his way over the line with just two minutes left for his brace and Bradford’s sixth of the afternoon. 

MAN OF THE MATCH

As voted for by Executive Match Sponsors MAG Laundry, Jordan Lilley.

SQUADS

Bradford Bulls: Tom Holmes, Ben Blackmore, Jayden Myers, Kieran Gill, David Foggin-Johnston, Jordan Lilley, Lee Gaskell, Michael Lawrence, George Flanagan Snr, Fenton Rogers, AJ Wallace, Joe Arundel, Jason Baitieri. INTERCHANGES: Ebon Scurr, Billy Jowitt, Keven Appo, Eribe Doro. 18th Man: Masi Matongo.

TRIES: Flanagan Snr (2), Arundel, Gill, Lilley, Holmes

GOALS: Lilley 6/6

Newcastle Thunder: Alex Donaghy, Jack Johnson, Mac Walsh, Marcus Walker, Gideon Boafo, Denive Balmforth, Nikau Williams, Jay Chapelhow, Curtis Davies, Connor Moore, Alex Clegg, Robert Tuliatu, Connor Bailey. INTERCHANGES: Evan Simons, Jake Lightowler, Tyler Walton, Evan Lawther. 

TRIES: Tuliatu, Clegg

GOALS: Williams 0/2