BRADFORD BULLS 28 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 8
CHRISTIAN LEE, Bartercard Odsal, Friday

BOTH wingers crossed twice as Bradford dispatched Featherstone in the first round of the play-offs.

Ebon Scurr also crossed for the Bulls as Rovers could only reply with a penalty and a consolation try through Caleb Aekins.

After an initial arm wrestle through the middle, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Danny Addy slotted a penalty after a high tackle on James Glover. 

However, Rovers would quickly relinquish their advantage when Jayden Okunbor touched down in the corner for his first try.

Bradford kept the ball alive and found Luke Hooley who threw a bullet-like pass to his winger hugging the touchline, and Okunbor was too fast for the covering defenders.

Jordan Lilley tagged on the extras from the touchline.

Featherstone thought they had levelled when Glover scored a try which included a kick forward by Caleb Aekins in the build up.

However, referee Scott Mikalauskas pulled the play back for interference by in the build up which sparked a coming together after the play.

The vocal home fans felt justice had been done as they believed the referee had missed  Bailey O’Connor being offside as he collected the kick through in the build up.

After surviving a scare at the other end, the Bulls added to their lead ten minutes short of  the break.

Crafty play from dummy half saw Mitch Souter make a break and the hooker somehow found Okunbor out wide as he was being tackled, allowing the winger to crash over for his second.

With Lilley off the field, Hooley stepped up and added the extras from a similar position.

Featherstone started the stronger in the second half as they chased the game and Aekins nearly went over as he went himself on the last but the fullback was brought down metres short.

Despite this, it was Bradford who added to their lead.

A series of offloads rolled Bradford down the pitch and, on the last, a grubber through by Tom Holmes bounced up over the head of Kieran Gill chasing through and into the arms of Jorge Tafua who crossed untouched.

Hooley made no mistake adding the extras to stretch Bradford’s lead to 16.

Featherstone fought hard to get back into the game, however, the deficit was too much with less than 30 minutes on the clock for a side ravaged by injuries in key positions. 

With 15 minutes to go, Ebon Scurr crashed on to an inside ball from Luke Hooley for Bradford’s fourth try of the game. 

The try was converted by Hooley who regathered himself after taking a heavy hit as he set up the score.

Featherstone were rewarded for their hard work in the final moments as Aekins reached to score a consolation try, converted by Addy.

Finally, on the buzzer, Bradford attacked down the left following a Featherstone knock on and Gill turned Taufua back inside for his second.

Michael Lawrence stepped up to take the kick on what could be his last game at Odsal but hooked it wide.

GAMESTAR: With Joe Keyes injured, Luke Hooley stepped up in attack, having a hand in two of the tries and providing a constant threat in the Bradford backline.

GAMEBREAKER: Jorge Tafua’s try flipped the momentum after a bright start from Featherstone, and the three score lead would prove to be insurmountable for the injury-hit visitors.

MATCHFACTS
BULLS
26 Luke Hooley
37 Jayden Okunbor
3 Waqa Blake
4 Kieran Gill
23 Jorge Taufua
1 Tom Holmes
6 James Meadows
8 Michael Lawrence
9 Jordan Lilley
10 Ebon Scurr
11 Zac Fulton
12 Matty Gee
18 Sam Hallas
Subs (all used)
14 Mitch Souter
22 Eliot Peposhi
34 Chris Hill
35 Zane Musgrove

Tries: Okunbor (13, 31), Taufua (54, 80), Scurr (64)
Goals: Lilley 1/1, Hooley 3/3, Lawrence 0/1

ROVERS
1 Caleb Aekins
23 Connor Wynne
5 Gareth Gale
20 Josh Hardcastle
2 Derrell Olpherts
29 James Glover
24 Bailey O’Connor
8 Gadwin Springer
13 Danny Addy
10 Jimmy Beckett
11 Brad Day
17 Clay Webb
37 Nathan Wilde
Subs (all used)
15 Sitaleki Akauola
19 Robson Stevens
16 King Vuniyayawa
21 Jordan Williams

Tries: Aekins (75)
Goals: Addy 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 6-2, 12-2; 18-2, 24-2, 24-8, 28-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulls: Luke Hooley; Rovers: Caleb Aekins

Penalty count: 3-8
Half-time: 12-2
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 2,022