BRADFORD BULLS 12 LEIGH LEOPARDS 38
KEITH McGHIE, Bartercard Odsal, Sunday

A JOSH CHARNLEY hat-trick overhauled Ryan Hall’s hitherto all-time leading Super League try-scoring tally of 271 as his in-form Leigh made it six wins out of seven to move to within a couple of points of the final play-off spot.

The latest stage of the Leopards’ Charnley-led charge was Bradford’s third home defeat of their initial season back in the big time.

Innes Senior, Bailey Hodgson and Louis Brogan also crossed for the visitors in the second half, while Chris Atkin and Caleb Aekins replied for Bradford.

The Bulls were without Jayden Nikorima, who picked up a shoulder injury in the previous week’s victory over York, and Connor Wynne, with Atkin and Guy Armitage coming in.

Phoenix Steinwede was also added on the bench after making a quicker-than-expected return from an ankle injury.

Leopards boss Adrian Lam resisted the temptation to bring centres Tesi Niu and Umyla Hanley back from injury, despite both being named in an otherwise unchanged squad to that which saw off the challenge of Castleford.

After crowd-rousing runs from Eribe Doro and Armitage, the Bulls created the first real chance with Waqa Blake breaking down the left and, with Ethan Ryan on his outside and waiting for the scoring pass, it was wayward and only found touch.

Leigh went ahead through an Adam Cook penalty – his first of seven successful goals from as many attempts – after Bradford had been caught interfering at the ruck by a Captain’s Challenge.

On the last tackle of the very next set a high kick was allowed to bounce perfectly for Charnley to race onto and land his 270th competition try – one short of Hall’s mark.

Matters didn’t improve for the hosts when the forceful Doro was helped off injured shortly afterwards.

Bulls, lacking accuracy if not endeavour, worked hard to get back in the game but failed to make much impression as the Leopards came forward less frequently but with more fluency.

Ryan Sutton came close and gradually the home team, guided forward by the ever-industrious Joe Mellor, continued to spend much of the time on the front foot without anything tangible to show for it.

At the other end, a long, missed pass to the right enabled Charnley to step inside and score again to help increase Leigh’s lead to 14 points, while drawing level with Hall.

Early in the second half Atkin began a possible comeback with a determined run from almost halfway and, having shaken off the defence, avoided a last-gasp effort from Charnley to touchdown in the corner, with Riley Dean curling in a magnificent conversion from out wide.

The home exuberance didn’t last long as Leigh sped the ball out for Innes Senior to add his own winger’s try.

Five minutes later the Charnley show was complete when he followed up a Cook half break to complete his hat-trick and move onto 272 tries.

Bradford’s determination not to allow their enthusiasm in front of their own fans to wane was illustrated by an evasive Andy Ackers break from centre field which was successfully supported by Aekins.

Ethan Ryan was denied a possible follow-up try before Hodgson and Brogan got in on the scoring act for the Leopards in the final twelve minutes.

GAMESTAR: Josh Charnley – mostly for his historic and varied hat-trick but also for a lesser noticed industrious defensive effort.

GAMEBREAKER: Charnley’s linking with Adam Cook for his historic hat-trick to make it a 20-point advantage.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Andy Ackers’ centre-field elusiveness, brilliantly supported by Caleb Aekins.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Josh Charnley (Leigh)
2 pts Adam Cook (Leigh)
1 pt Joe Mellor (Bradford)

MATCHFACTS

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
24 Guy Armitage
17 Ed Chamberlain
4 Waqa Blake
5 Ethan Ryan
6 Chris Atkin
38 Riley Dean
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
15 Eribe Doro
11 Dan Russell
12 Zac Fulton
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
16 Ebon Scurr
19 Will Gardiner
22 Luke Hooley
34 Phoenix Steinwede
18th man (not used)
25 Eliot Peposhi
Also in 21-man squad
6 Jayden Nikorima
14 Mitch Souter
23 Connor Wynne

Tries: Atkin (44), Aekins (60)
Goals: Dean 2/2

LEOPARDS
1 David Armstrong
19 Innes Senior
18 Bailey Hodgson
22 Jack Hughes
5 Josh Charnley
6 Adam Cook
7 Lachlan Lam
8 Joe Ofahenguae
9 Edwin Ipape
10 Robbie Mulhern
11 Frankie Halton
15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke
13 Isaac Liu
Subs (all used)
14 Aaron Pene
17 Liam Horne
21 Gareth O’Brien
25 Louis Brogan
18th man (not used)
16 Matt Davis
Also in 21-man squad
2 Tesi Niu
4 Umyla Hanley
28 Ryan Brown

Tries: Charnley (13, 32, 55), Senior (49), Hodgson (68), Brogan (72)
Goals: Cook 7/7

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 0-8, 0-14; 6-14, 6-20, 6-26, 12-26, 12-32, 12-38

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Man of the Match
Bulls: Joe Mellor; Leopards: Josh Charnley

Penalty count: 5-4
Half-time: 0-14
Referee: Jack Smith (replaced by Tara Jones)
Attendance: 8,010