It's so near but so far as Bulls run Fev close

THE Bulls had trumpeted it as the “biggest game of 2021” in the pre-match marketing.

Second v third – a chance to make a real statement among the Championship hierarchy.

The truth, of course, is that there has been a significant gap between the two sides. That was evidenced by the 85-16 aggregate score of this year’s two previous meetings.

But the Bulls came as close as anyone to removing Featherstone’s unbeaten tag in a pulsating afternoon at Odsal yesterday.

They led twice – and were eight points ahead at half-time – before Fev turned on the power to do enough to scrape home for an 18th consecutive league victory.

It was Fev’s fifth straight win over the Bulls since that golden-point drop goal from Jordan Lilley in their 2019 Challenge Cup epic.

With no Lilley, although he is getting close, and Danny Brough, Joe Keyes was once again partnered in the halves by Joe Brown.

Sam Hallas returned at hooker after being left out at Oldham with Thomas Doyle missing out with a hip problem he suffered at work. Brad Gallagher replaced the injured Aaron Murphy in the second row.

Fev were without seven players through Covid protocols and rested Craig Kopczak.

They also had issues at half-back where John Davies moved from the second row to back up Dane Chisholm.

Sam Hallas celebrates Ben Evans' opening score for the Bulls

A lapse in concentration from the former Bulls talisman gave his old side the perfect start. Chisholm dropped the ball on the last tackle in his own half and the Bulls seized the opportunity, Hallas setting up Ben Evans to stretch out under the posts.

Fev then coughed up a cheap penalty on their own 40 for dissent – and Keyes called for the kicking tee to confidently land a couple more.

It was a controlled start from the Bulls and when Craig Harrison threatened to break through, Reece Hamlett was on hand to make the stop as the ball was knocked loose.

A late hit on Brandon Pickersgill gave Keyes the chance to increase the lead to double figures after 16 minutes.

But the momentum suddenly shifted with two Featherstone strikes in two minutes.

Young winger Jacob Doyle added to his Wembley double with a try in the corner – which Craig Hall impressively improved from the touchline.

Then a kick-off blunder from Keyes, booting it out on the full, allowed Chisholm to hammer the resulting penalty deep into Bulls territory. Featherstone made it count in ruthless fashion as Nu Brown forced his way in from dummy half.

It was becoming a ding-dong tussle and Brad England’s one-on-one ball strip got the Bulls back on the attack. Keyes looped a pass to the left wing where David Foggin-Johnston plunged in for the score.

But that was nothing compared with the stunning effort that swiftly followed.

Anthony Walker pumped away on a break of 50 metres, Hallas took the ball on to within 15 metres of the Fev line and Pickersgill was there on his shoulder to finish off a fantastic move.

The Bulls fully deserved their eight-point cushion at the hooter against a Fev side who had looked pretty rattled.

But all the good work was undone with a soft try five minutes after the restart, James Harrison spinning out of a tackle to charge in and reduce the lead to just two.

Four minutes later, the Fev prop was in again from a short pass and the Bulls had barely touched the ball as they trailed.

A high shot from Davies on Keyes brought them into scoring range for the first time since the resumption but Fev’s defence stood firm to protect their slender advantage.

Pickersgill and Reece Hamlett then combined to shovel Harvey Spence into touch as he threatened a fifth Rovers try.

But that soon followed as Brown helped himself to his second against a tiring defence.

Rhys Evans gets his try down to keep the Bulls in the game

The Bulls looked to be running on empty after their earlier exertions caught up with them to concede 20 unanswered points.

They needed a lift – which they got with 11 minutes left after a penalty for holding down George Flanagan. Pickersgill sent in Rhys Evans for the try although Keyes’ narrow miss with the kick kept it a two-score game.

Keyes made amends with an explosive break to get the crowd on their feet but controversy erupted when he was brought down 10 metres from the line.

Second row Frankie Halton made the stop but it was the follow-up from Gareth Gale that had the Bulls up in arms.

The winger was sin-binned for what looked a forearm flop, although there were claims afterwards that a closed fist was involved.

Keyes was left in a groggy heap on the floor as he received lengthy treatment before being helped gingerly from the pitch.

That left the Bulls without a recognised half back for the closing stages.

But they still cashed in on the man advantage with Flanagan’s trademark close-range finish under the posts - and he rushed to convert the extras himself to bring the Bulls within two again.

They had to take a chance as the seconds ticked away and a misplaced pass as they tried to force it flew straight to Chisholm who strolled in to put the seal on a wild afternoon.

BULLS: Pickersgill; Hamlett, R Evans, Oakes, Foggin-Johnston; Brown, Keyes; Crossley, Hallas, Fleming, Gallagher, England, B Evans. Interchange: Flanagan, Rooks, Scurr, Walker.

FEATHERSTONE: Hall; Gale, Welham, Hardcastle, Doyle; Davies, Chisholm; Lockwood, Brown, Harrison, Ferres, Halton, McConnell. Interchange: Cooper, Field, Summers, Spence.

BULLS MAN OF MATCH: Anthony Walker.