RESILIENT YOUNG BULLS FALL TO LATE HUNSLET DEFEAT

John Kear’s young Bradford Bulls side narrowly lost out to a much-experienced League 1 Hunslet side in a close-fought encounter at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday.

Bradford came out firing and took the lead when a looped pass found Murphy Smith to touch down, although Hunslet responded soon after as League 1 veteran Josh Tonks scored to level proceedings. 

Hunslet’s experience started to shine through as the half went on as they over with a further two tries through former Bull Halafihi and Anthony Boardman to extend their lead at the end of the half.

Boardman strolled in for his second after the restart, but a resilient Bradford side refused to sit down and hit back with a quick-fire double through Shackleton and the impressive Matthew Race.

Bradford had chances to take the game within the closing stages, but it was Hunslet who would take the victory as another former Bradford man Andrade took barged his way over to score.

Head Coach Kear had named a much-changed side from the one that had beaten Super League outfit Castleford Tigers on boxing day, with only Shackleton, Scurr, Smith and Keelan Foster keeping their place.

With an average age of 19 years and 10 days, a very young Bradford side didn’t look out of place against their League 1 counterparts and dominated the opening quarter of the game.

The youngsters’ bright start paid dividends just ten minutes into the game as Smith, making the step up from the academy, showed fantastic handling to take a clever Cobi Green kick over the top to touch down.

Gary Thornton’s Hunslet side, sporting six former Bradford players, grew into the game as the half drew on and got themselves back level Josh Tonks, who spotted a gap to race through and score.

As the half drew on, Bradford found themselves creating more chances and went close through impressive half Matthew Race, although it would be the home team who took the lead, deep into the first half through the former Bradford Bull Vila Halafihi who spotted a gap at dummy-half and flew over.

The young Bulls did well to repel a Hunslet onslaught but there was nothing that could be done as quick hands from Hunslet sent Boardman in to extend their lead as the half time hooter sounded.

After the interval, Boardman added another to his afternoon tally, taking a long pass to walk in.

This spurred on the Bradford side though as Harry Shackleton, coming on from the bench reduced the arrears as he danced through the Hunslet defence to grab a try.

The young Bulls weren’t done there as Matthew Race, who had gone close in the first half, got a try that his performance deserved as he raced through to dive underneath the sticks.

In a high intensity game, both sides were showing signs of fatigue in the second half as Bradford looked to grab a winning try.

After putting in an impressive performance, Bradford would find themselves unlucky to come out of the game on the losing side as with minutes remaining, another former Bull came back to haunt the Championship side as Andrade sealed the win for Hunslet, barging his way over the line.

BRADFORD BULLS: Billy Jowitt, Murphy Smith, Will Adams, Ryan Butterworth, Ryan Leadbeater, Matthew Race, Cobi Green, Keelan Foster, Cameron Berry, Ebon Scurr, Dewi Billingham, Sam Smith, James McGurk. INTERCHANGES: Kieran Brining, Kian Oldroyd, Ethan O’Hanlon, Isaac Coleman, Leyton Heywood, Jacob Smillie, Harry Shackleton, Luke Littlewood, Bradley Ho.

TRIES: M. Smith, Shackleton, Race

GOALS: Race 1/1, Shackleton 2/2