BRADFORD Bulls got their first points of the season with a 29-10 Good Friday victory over Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Championship this evening.

Having fallen to defeat at promotion favourites Wakefield Trinity on the opening weekend, Eamon O’Carroll’s side had the opportunity to impress under the Odsal lights against one of their dearest rivals, and that is exactly what they did.

Eribe Doro recovered from his ankle injury prematurely to make the starting lineup in a huge boost for the hosts.

And Joe Arundel (injury) and John Davies (suspension) both returned from their respective absences to make the starting 13.

In front of a strong West Yorkshire crowd, the Bulls found their feet early on and were soon ahead.

A strong drive by John Davies saw the ball fed into the onrushing powerhouse, Doro, who fell just short of the line.

The ball was worked left as the hosts looked to create an opening in the Halifax defence, but Jordan Lilley had other ideas.

On the sixth, he switched play with a lofted kick and the ball fell kindly on the bounce to Jayden Myers to touch down. Lilley added the extras.

Halifax responded brilliantly and after a sustained period in Bradford’s half, they would soon find themselves ahead having scored two well-worked tries.

The first came through Matty Gee on the 22nd minute, who found space in the Bradford defence to dart over for a converted try.

Then, four minutes later, Fax worked the ball to the left-hand side of the field where James Woodburn-Hall was waiting to pierce a hole in the home side’s backline. The conversion was missed but the visitors were 10-6 in front.

Bradford then pressured their rivals into an error and it gave the hosts the opportunity to build some pressure of their own.

On the second set of six, Lilley pushed through a gap before off-loading the ball to Mitch Souter who dummied his way over to give O’Carroll’s side a 12-10 lead going into the break.

After the interval, it was the hosts who looked to apply the early pressure and in doing so, a number of penalty decisions were finally starting to go in their favour.

Halifax were penalised for being offside and this time, Bradford opted for the two points instead of kicking into touch; Lilley making no mistake in slotting his effort over the posts to give Bulls a 14-10 lead.

The 49th minute arrived and so did Bradford’s next score.

Daniel Smith wriggled his way through two challenges before off-loading the ball to Max Wood to go over for a converted try. 20-10 to the hosts.

With the Odsal crowd in high spirits, the home side sensed an opportunity to put this game to bed, and none more so than mercurial man, Lilley who had an exemplary evening with the boot.

After passing up the opportunity previously, this time Bradford’s no7 decided to take the two points after his side had been awarded another penalty centrally.

Shortly after Lilley was invited to attempt a drop goal after being handed a great deal of space just 20 metres out. He clipped his attempt effortlessly over the posts to send the hosts into a 23-10 lead with seven minutes to go.

There was still time for the Bulls to add another converted try, and it was new signing Zac Fulton who was the beneficiary on debut, as he collected an off-load to power over.

Bradford saw out the game efficiently to claim their first two points of the season and a 29-10 victory.

Up next for the Odsal side is a trip to Featherstone Rovers next Sunday.