A youthful Bulls side were outmuscled by a physically superior and more experienced Dewsbury outfit in today’s pre-season friendly at the Tetley’s Stadium.
Head coach Francis Cummins rested the bulk of his first-team squad and handed opportunities to a number of young fringe players and Academy products.
But Dewsbury, who were at close to full strength and included hardened Championship performers such as Makali Aizue, made their physicality pay in difficult conditions.
Centre Shane Grady opened the scoring with a well-taken try in the fifth minute before the young Bulls replied six minutes later when Warrington loanee James Saltonstall touched down a kick from Lee Gaskell.
But Dale Morton touched down in the left corner on the stroke of half-time to cap a fine handling sequence and then added his second shortly after the break with another clinical finish.
Half-back Anthony Thackeray then powered through a gaping hole in the Bulls’ rearguard to add a fourth Dewsbury try in the 51st minute.
Despite a spirited response from the visitors, they could not make their second-half pressure pay as Dewsbury held on before Aizue galloped clear for a fifth try with ten minutes remaining.
Cummins handed opportunities to Warrington loanees Saltonstall, Joe Philbin and Tom Walker, along with Academy products Adam Brook, Emmerson Whittel, Sam Bates, Brad Adams, Steve Copeland, Nick Gomersall and Jordan Gale.
But Dewsbury added a sixth try with six minutes remaining when Aaron Brown touched down from close range before Thackeray’s second completed the scoring.
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