THE BULLS ARE BACK IN ACTION

BRADFORD Bulls returned to action for the first time in 358 days this afternoon – in a clash which saw 27 first-team players get an outing in a narrow defeat against Swinton Lions.

 The Bulls opened the scoring early on through Brandon Pickersgill before going on to extend their lead with Ross Oakes touching down following a slick passing move.

Swinton did manage to reduce the deficit with half-time approaching – Jack Hansen touching down following neat interplay on their right edge.

Matty Dawson-Jones opened his year’s account early in the second half - before a trio of quickfire tries saw Stuart Littler’s Lions take the lead.

As the hosts rung the changes, George Flanagan produced a trademark effort the level the scores – with veteran Rhodri Lloyd having the final say with a try late on.

Head Coach John Kear selected a strong line-up to start the game, with Danny Brough, Pickersgill and Steve Crossley all starting – with all 14 interchanges enjoying minutes at some stage of the contest.

Bradford came out with a point to prove after missing almost a year of action and took the lead early on.

Dawson-Jones broke to halfway having collected a Swinton kick before handing off to the supporting Pickersgill for Bradford’s first points of the new year.

Despite being reduced to 12 men, the hosts extended their lead through Oakes – a strong run by Ebon Scurr laying the platform for an overload, with the homegrown star benefitting from acres of space.

Swinton hit back on the half hour mark – a move on the powerplay giving Hansen the time and space to reduce the deficit.

The Bulls came out firing at the second half and quickly re-established their two-score advantage – a bullet pass from Thomas Doyle sending the on-rushing Dawson-Jones over.

With both sides ringing the changes in the second half, Mike Butt and Geronimo Doyle tries brought the visitors back within touching distance.

Deane Meadows then gave Swinton their first lead of the afternoon before a brief Bradford response seeing Flanagan crash over in typical fashion.

A drop-goal attempt then fell narrowly wide from the home side – before Lloyd’s effort late on rounding off the end of the first fixture in just under a calendar year.

BRADFORD BULLS: Brandon Pickersgill, Joe Brown, Reece Hamlett, Ross Oakes, Matty Dawson-Jones, Danny Brough, Jordan Lilley, Anthony Walker, George Flanagan, Steve Crossley, Brad Gallagher, Brad England, Dan Fleming, Ebon Scurr, Thomas Doyle, Levy Nzoungou, David Foggin-Johnston, Elliot Wallis, Billy Jowitt, Bradley Ho, Cameron Berry, Murphy Smith, Ethan O’Hanlon, Sam Smith, Brad Calland, Joe Burton, Adam Rooks.

TRIES: Pickersgill, Oakes, Dawson-Jones, Flanagan

GOALS: Brough (2/2), Jowitt (1/2)

SWINTON LIONS: Mike Butt, Richard Lepori, Mitch Cox, Liam Forsyth, Geronimo Doyle, Martyn Ridyard, Jack Hansen, Sam Brooks, Luke Waterworth, Lewis Hatton, Rhodri Lloyd, Nick Gregson, Louis Brogan, Billy Brickhill, Cobi Green, Paddy Jones, Deane Meadows, Sam Grant, Tayler Brown, Ben Heyes, Paul Nash, Jose Kenga, Jordan Brown.

TRIES: Hansen, Butt, Doyle, Meadows, Lloyd.

GOALS: Ridyard (2/3), Hansen (1/2)