Bradford Bulls end Featherstone Rovers hoodoo with fine win

It had become the norm over the last few years to see Fev put 40 or 50-odd points on Bulls at Post Office Road, and the visitors were without a victory here since 2015.

But last year’s performances against Rovers were Bradford’s best against their West Yorkshire rivals in years, and while they lost on both occasions, the gap looked to be closing.

And maybe, just whisper it, that gap no longer exists at all.

Whether it be the flair of young loanees Connor Carr and Aidan McGowan, arguably the two most enterprising players on the field, or the steely defence of veteran trio Dan Smith, John Davies and Joe Arundel, not a single Bradford player let his side down yesterday.

All of a sudden, despite a nightmare injury list that is only easing slightly with each passing week, Bulls now have four points from six from what is arguably the hardest start of any side in the division.

Carr was the best player on the field in the early stages today, and having already made one try-saving tackle out wide on the rampaging Caleb Aekins, he gave Bulls the lead.

Jordan Lilley flung a risky pass out to Kieran Gill, but the centre took it above his head and went left to Carr, who squeezed over in the corner despite a last ditch challenge.

Connor Carr does brilliantly to score in the corner to give Bulls the perfect start at Post Office Road. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Lilley’s kick was drilled well wide to the right, but he made amends with an excellent assist for Bulls’ second try, which came as a result of a couple of penalties.

Bulls had been on the back foot as Fev attempted to go in front, but McGowan produced an extraordinary 80m run beyond about six defenders, having leapt through the air to claim a difficult kick that swirled in the wind.

His charge was only ended by a high tackle, then Bulls were gifted another run at the home line after Lilley was clattered unfairly.

From that set, Mitch Souter found Lilley on the last tackle, the half back dabbed it through, and Gill slid in to score just before the ball ran dead.

A simple conversion from the half-back put Bradford into a 10-0 lead and when Josh Hardcastle was forced off for Rovers with a shoulder problem, everything seemed to be going the away side's way.

Things are rarely that simple in a game of rugby league though.

Just under 10 minutes before the break, McGowan brought down the charging Manoa Wacokecoke close to the Bulls line, but in the aftermath, Souter was deemed to have knocked the ball away illegally, and the Aussie was sent to the sin-bin, despite his protests.

Bulls had to ride out something of a storm after Mitch Souter was yellow carded late in the first half. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Bulls were wobbling as a poor tackle from Davies saw him a tad fortunate not to pick up a yellow card and the Featherstone pressure finally told two minutes before the break.

Former Bradford second row Brad England bounced off a tackle and fed Connor Jones, with the half-back playing a neat one-two with Leo Tennison, the latter doing brilliantly to lay off the return pass while being brought down.

Jones did the rest on his 100th Fev appearance, driving to McGowan's left and going over the line, with Louix Gorman’s simple conversion reducing the gap to just four points at half-time.

Featherstone were the better side straight after the break.

Arundel had already saved Bulls by slide-tackling a loose ball out of play after Jayden Myers had dropped a high kick backwards towards his own line, before the home pressure told.

They stayed patient on the inside left and Paul Turner did brilliantly to duck under a couple of despairing tackles to stretch out and score from close range.

But Gorman’s woeful kick zipped wide to the right and Bulls seemed buoyed by the fact they were still level, not behind.

In the howling wind, Featherstone erred from Bradford’s kick off, and in a panic they conceded a penalty, allowing Lilley to boot the visitors straight back in front.

Jordan Lilley kicked well from the hand and from the tee in windy conditions. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Lilley was then taken out late as he kicked from the halfway line and Bulls worked the penalty upfield superbly.

Bulls got close as they worked it right to left, with McGowan charging towards the line before feeding Carr, who flew over for his second try of the game.

Lilley’s kick from the touchline drifted agonisingly wide, but he shrugged that off a few minutes later.

He fed an onrushing Chester Butler on his left, and the Featherstone man gambled incorrectly, flying out of the line and missing his tackle, allowing the Bulls second row to charge through from 10 metres out and slide over the line.

Chester Butler's try essentially put Bradford out of sight against their hosts. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Lilley banged the subsequent conversion over, then landed a penalty after McGowan had been tackled illegally, putting his side 24-10 ahead.

That left Featherstone just under 10 minutes to find three tries for an incredible turnaround, and while they managed one, Gorman and Jones combining superbly down the left for a unconverted score, they never realistically threatened to make a comeback.

Bulls got through the game unscathed on the injury front too, and things are looking up as they look to make it three league wins in a row next Saturday at home to Toulouse, the French side still reeling from a shock home loss to Swinton yesterday.

FEATHERSTONE: Gorman, Wacokecoke, Minikin, Aekins, Gale, Turner, Jones, Kamano, Bowes, Aydin, Hardcastle, Wallace, Addy. Interchanges: Tomlinson, England, Albert, Tennison. 18th man: Wynne.

BULLS: McGowan, Myers, Arundel, Gill, Carr, Davies, Lilley, Doro, Souter, Smith, Fulton, Butler, Hallas. Interchanges: Appo, Wilson, Ott, Rogers. 18th man: Peposhi.

BULLS MAN OF THE MATCH: CONNOR CARR.