Bradford Bulls seal play-off place after fourth straight win

IT WASN’T pretty but it was effective enough to book their ticket to the play-offs.

The Bulls battled to a fourth consecutive win at a soggy Odsal to ensure they will be in the promotion shoot-out – and keep the fight alive with Toulouse for second spot.

Batley were typical Batley and refused to go away. They were in the contest right up to the closing minutes when a missed conversion blew the chance of levelling.

As Eamon O’Carroll put it afterwards, this was the sort of uncomfortable confrontation they can expect in the shoot-out of the play-offs.

• "We needed a game that was touch and go"

They found a way to win – something that might not have happened earlier in the campaign.

Wigan youngster Harvey Makin returned after playing for his parent club in the Reserves Grand Final.

Makin was one of two changes to the starting 13 from the win at Sheffield – one enforced after Eribe Doro’s back injury. Mitch Souter also returned at hooker in place of Tyran Ott, who was left out completely.

Jarrod Sammut’s return gave O’Carroll the rare luxury of a third half-back on the bench.

Batley had won three of the last four meeting between the sides – and inflicted one of the three single-point losses the Bulls have suffered this season at Mount Pleasant in May.

The Bulls had an early chance as James Brown smothered Lee Gaskell’s grubber at the second attempt by the foot of the Batley posts. Gaskell was then called upon at the other end from the next Batley attack to thwart Brandon Moore 10 metres out.

But the Bulls struck first on 10 minutes – thanks to a sensational break by Tom Holmes.

Batley were on the front foot when the full back swept up Ben White’s low kick, broke the line and tore upfield.

He was eventually hauled down 20 metres out but the Bulls took full advantage as clever work from Jayden Okunbor and Jordan Lilley set up Jorge Taufua, playing his last game before another ban, to stretch over in the corner. Lilley added the touchline extras.

Keven Appo went off with an HIA - which he passed afterwards (Image: Tom Pearson)

But Batley levelled it up by the midway point of the half as the Bulls paid for their indiscipline.

They gave up three consecutive penalties inside their own 10 and Lucas Walshaw crashed through a gap to punish them.

The Bulldogs were giving as good as they got as the Bulls struggled to get into a rhythm.

Lilley briefly lifted the crowd by kicking early in the count to turn the visitors round but there was nothing between the two teams.

There were few scoring chances with the fans venting their frustration at referee Ryan Cox over some questionable decisions.

And the mood grew even feistier when Batley turned it round to lead.

The Bulls had been on the attack when it looked like Michael Ward had tackled a man not in possession.

As the crowd roared in disapproval, Batley full back Robbie Butterworth broke away into the Bulls half.

Holmes back-pedalled to drag him down but the visitors had the men advantage and made it count as top scorer Joe Burton went over for his 16th try of the season.

But the Bulls didn’t trail for very long as Lilley calmly delayed his pass before picking the right moment to locate Okunbor to dive into the right corner. Another confident kick from Lilley edged them back in front as the rain returned.

The Bulls started the second half positively as they looked to put some daylight in the contest.

Lilley’s intelligent kick forced Dale Morton to run the ball behind for the first goalline drop-out. But Souter was held up short as Batley survived.

Their spirit was broken after a penalty for holding down Taufua gave Bulls great field advantage.

Gaskell made the most of it showing good vision to bounce a kick into Okunbor’s run for the right wing’s second try.

As a weak sun competed with the persistent drizzle, the teams continued to slug it out with Kieran Buchanan wrapped up a few metres from the Bulls line.

Jorge Taufau stretches to score the Bulls' opening try (Image: Tom Pearson)

Lilley missed three drop-goals in their first meeting and his attempt to tack another point on the Bulls’ advantage drifted wide of the left post.

It remained a one-score game as the Bulls lost Keven Appo for a head assessment after a lengthy stoppage. Sammut had another pop for a one-pointer but again couldn’t find the target.

The nip-and-tuck nature went on but tempers rose when Jayden Myers looked to be the victim of a tip tackle. But Dane Manning stayed on the field to the disapproval of the crowd.

Batley forced their way right back in it when George Senior scored their third try after Okunbor lost the ball.

Woods had the chance to level it up from the kick three metres inside the touchline but dragged it right – holding his head amid the loud cheers behind him.

BULLS: Holmes; Okunbor, Myers, Franco, Taufua; Gaskell, Lilley; Lawrence, Souter, Makin, Fulton, Appo, Hallas. Interchange: Scurr, Smith, Pele, Sammut.

BATLEY: Butterworth; Morton, Kear, Buchanan, Joe Burton; White, Woods; Gledhill, Moore, Brown, Manning, Walshaw, Blake. Interchange: Oliver Burton, Senior, Ward, Kaye.

BULLS MAN OF MATCH: Jayden Okunbor.