BULLS POST NINE IN THE SUNSHINE

Bradford Bulls returned to winning ways in emphatic style with a nine-try 48-24 win over Featherstone Rovers at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon.

Brian Noble welcomed Franklin Pele back into the mix in the only change from last week’s defeat against Barrow Raiders. Frank replaced Logan Bayliss. 

The Bulls got off to the perfect start when Mitch Souter pounced on a grubber by Joe Keyes to open the scoring. 

Featherstone hit back in slightly fortuitous circumstances when Brad Day collected his own grubber, which took an awkard bounce over the head of Luke Hooley. 

Bradford were not deterred and pressure told when a shift play on the left edge sent Guy Armitage flying over. 

Soon after, the Bulls produced more goods on the edges with Jayden Okunbor stepping back inside to power over Calum Turner. 

With the hooter imminent, Armitage turned provider as he broke clear down the left, finding his inside man Kieran Gill to score under the posts. 

An error straight after the interval handed Featherstone prime position to reduce the arrears, and they did just that, with Brad Day scoring his second. 

The Bulls responded in some style, with back to back tries in front of the loud and proud Bradford supporters. 

Keyes poked his nose through a gap and found the skipper Michael Lawrence, for his first try since August 2023. 

Soon after, James Meadows put Zac Fulton through a gap, with the Aussie returning the favour for Jimmy to score. 

Featherstone hit back with a well take scrum play sending Derrell Olpherts over. 

Back came Bradford with two more quick fire tries, Meadows kicking through for Gill to score his second. 

Gill then turned provider with a superb offload on the line giving Armitage his second of the contest. 

Connor Barley reduced the arrears having blocked a kick, collected and ran 80 metres. 

Both sides found themselves reduced to 12 men for separate sin bin offences, but it was the Bulls, and Kieran Gill in particular, who had the final say, who scored his hat-trick try on the back of a superb offload from Jordan Lilley. 

BRADFORD BULLS: Luke Hooley, Jayden Okunbor, Waqa Blake, Kieran Gill, Guy Armitage, James Meadows, Joe Keyes, Michael Lawrence, Mitch Souter, Franklin Pele, Zac Fulton, Matty Gee, James Donaldson. INTERCHANGES: Jordan Lilley, Sam Hallas, Nathan Mason, Ronan Michael. 

TRIES: Souter, Armitage (2), Okunbor, Gill (3), Lawrence, Meadows. 

GOALS: Hooley 6/9