EAMON O’Carroll saw his Bulls side go in front inside two minutes yesterday in their Betfred Championship play-off eliminator against Featherstone at Odsal, and there was plenty to keep him smiling in the rest of the game.

Building on that early try from Jayden Myers, Bradford went on to record a 25-12 win over their bitter rivals, sending them into a semi-final showdown away to Toulouse.

Bulls’ lightning start meant they had scored before Fev had even had a touch of the ball, aside from the kick-off, and head coach O’Carroll said: “It does count for something that we went ahead so early and put that scoreboard pressure on Featherstone from the off.

“But my message to the lads was that we hadn’t defended yet, and that’s how you normally want to get into the game, so that was a little bit of a concern.

“Obviously in knockout games, if you score first you’re very happy, especially if you do that in the first couple of minutes.

“But you can sometimes let that have a negative effect on you, so I’m glad we didn’t allow that to happen.”

In a tight first half, Jordan Lilley kept the scoreboard ticking over after Myers’ try, a penalty and a drop goal putting them 7-0 up at the break, before Bulls really hit their straps later on.

Kieran Gill scored the first of Bulls' three second half tries, which came off the back of the scoreboard pressure Jordan Lilley put on before the break. Kieran Gill scored the first of Bulls' three second half tries, which came off the back of the scoreboard pressure Jordan Lilley put on before the break. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Those two scores were pivotal at keeping Rovers at arm’s length all afternoon and O’Carroll said: “I had a conversation with Jordy and Bruno (skipper Michael Lawrence) before the game, where I advised them that that was the way to go.

“I always want the players to make the decision themselves, but ultimately I will if I feel they really need my input.

“It’s still down to Jordy though, and whether he feels confident of making those kicks or whether he’d be more comfortable kicking the ball to the sideline.

“But I thought he was outstanding with the boot today and that penalty and drop goal put us in a good position.”

Lilley was one of several players to garner effusive praise from O’Carroll after the final whistle, including Sam Hallas, who deserved a moment like yesterday after a difficult few months.

He was brought in to start at hooker over Mitch Souter and Tyran Ott for the first time this season, the move paying off in spectacular fashion as he was named as the sponsors’ man of the match over the tannoy just before full time.

Sam Hallas has started at hooker for Bulls many times before, but not for a long time. Sam Hallas has started at hooker for Bulls many times before, but not for a long time. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Discussing his decision to play Hallas at nine, O’Carroll said: “It wasn’t a big call to have to make.

“I’ve got so much trust in Sam, and we’ve been talking about playing him there, as a group of staff, for a while.

“We probably would have done it sooner, but Sam’s been out with a bit of back issue and we just held him back, even though he probably could have played.

“I’m a big believer in the idea that you’ve got to start games well and do that defensively.

“I just felt that if we brought Mitch on later in the match, it would bring a different level to his game, coming on against a big, physical pack and providing that energy.

“Going with that tactic and approach certainly paid off for us today.”