Widnes Vikings v Bradford Bulls - Live blog (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

9:47pm

Widnes 22, Bulls 22

Francis Cummins was left stunned as Widnes withstood the dismissal of Gareth Hock to launch a remarkable fightback and deny the Bulls victory tonight.

On-loan Wigan forward Hock was dismissed after 30 minutes for an apparent show of dissent towards referee Robert Hicks, who endured a torrid night.

Hock’s dismissal came when the Bulls were 16-4 up and left his side facing a mountainous task.

But former Bradford winger Patrick Ah Van scored twice and then kicked a late penalty to level the scores.

Bradford, who were denied back-to-back wins for the first time this season, led when Elliott Whitehead took a pass from Brett Kearney to crash over the line.

Kearney then maintained his remarkable record of scoring in every game this season with a fine break to stretch the Bulls’ lead.

Widnes replied through Ah Van but a penalty was awarded against Widnes, which led to Matt Diskin going over, sparking the fury which led to Hock’s dismissal.

Keith Lulia added a fourth try before a spirited second-half fightback harvested tries for Rhys Hanbury, Ah Van and Lloyd White before Ah Van’s penalty levelled the scores.

9:43pm

FINAL SCORE... 22-22... Incredible game. Widnes deserved their point.

9:38pm

5,861 is the crowd tonight...

9:37pm

76 mins... AH VAN kicks a penalty from 40 metres to level the scores!!

9:32pm

Ah Van's conversions leaves the scores finely poised at 20-22 in the Bulls' favour...

9:30pm

TRY!! Lloyd White....

9:23pm

63 mins... Rhys Hanbury held up...

9:13pm

55 mins... Sammut kicks a penalty to give the Bulls a little breathing space... It's now 22-14

9:08pm

Ah Van converts to make it 14-20... this could get interesting...
 

9:06pm

48 mins... WIDNES try!! Ah Van again...

9:00pm

TRY for Widnes!! Hanbury goes over from Hep Cahill's pass...

8:49pm

8:46pm

Half-time here... Bulls 20-4 up...

8:42pm

8:41pm

Sammut fails to convert from a difficult angle... 20-4 to the Bulls..

8:40pm

TRY!!! Keith Lulia scores the Bulls' fourth try of the game... after good work from Sammut

8:36pm

Big Phil Joseph on for Widnes by the way...

8:34pm

Sammut converted that by the way, so it's 16-4 to the Bulls...

8:33pm

It appears that Gareth Hock has been sent off... for dissent presumably...!!!

8:31pm

TRY!! Matt Diskin scoots over from acting half...!!!

8:23pm

21 mins... Widnes have scored in the left corner through former Bulls man Patrick Ah Van... but he fails to convert... 4-10...

8:23pm

20 mins... Manuokafoa OFF Sidlow ON...

8:19pm

“Widnes, Widnes, give us a song,” is the chant from the large and raucous away following... still 10-0...

8:16pm

A 40-20 so often leads to a try but not this time as Keith Lulia sees his progress halted...

8:15pm

14 mins... Danny Addy with a superb 40-20...

8:14pm

Widnes have fashioned a highly impressive response... but the Bulls hold firm...

8:08pm

Sammut converts Kearney's try to make it 10-0...

8:06pm

TRY!!! KEARNEY!!!

8:05pm

Jarrod Sammut is kicking... he misses. 0-4.

8:03pm

TRY!!! Kearney sends Elliott Whitehead over the line!!

8:03pm

Bulls immediately on the front foot...

7:47pm

Big following of Bulls fans here tonight. Atmosphere building ahead of kick-off, which is just 10 minutes away...

7:37pm

7:36pm

7:30pm

Just interviewed John Bateman. He's in buoyant mood and hoping to come into contention to face Hull KR next Sunday...

7:15pm

Interchange: Diskin, Donaldson, Murphy, Sidlow.

7:15pm

Bulls: Kearney, Kear, Blythe, Lulia, Walker, Addy, Sammut, Scruton, L'Estrange, Manuokafua, Olbison, Whitehead, Langley

7:14pm

So Chev Walker takes Foster's place on the left flank...

7:14pm

Manuokafoa and Diskin are passed fit to play but Jamie Foster misses out after picking up a knock at Huddersfield last week...

7:13pm

Okay folks,now for first-team matters...

7:09pm

Widnes Academy 16, Bradford Academy 46

John Bateman put himself in contention for a first-team return after scoring a first-half hat-trick and playing eighty minutes for the Academy this evening.

The homegrown back-rower underwent a shoulder reconstruction during the off-season and has not played a Super League game since last August.

But, with his rehab having progressed well, Bateman followed a short stint in the Under-19s against Huddersfield last week with a strong display at the Stobart Stadium.

Bateman, 19, lined up in the second row and opened the scoring with a fine surge over the line and Sam Wood quickly added a second to put Paul Medley’s young guns in control.

Bateman scored his second with another formidable break and soon went on to complete his hat-trick after again proving too strong for Widnes’ youngsters.

He also had a hand in a number of other tries and looked in excellent physical condition, suggesting he will come into contention to face Hull KR in next weekend’s Super League clash.

Adam Brook’s four conversions made it 24-0 before tries from Kane Ditchfield and Jack Owens cut the Bulls’ lead before the break.

Kyle Moore added a fifth try for the visitors shortly after the restart before the hosts grabbed their third score of the game.

Nevertheless, the Bulls continued to probe and Stephen Copeland scored their sixth try before Todd Binns scampered clear for a delightful effort.

Wood added his second late on to complete the scoring and was impressive along with Bateman, Brook, Nathan Conroy and Alex Mellor in what marked a thoroughly good night's work for the Bulls before the first-team game at 8pm.
 

7:04pm

FINAL SCORE... Widnes 16 Bulls 46...

7:02pm

Brook adds the extras...

7:01pm

77 mins... Sam Wood has raced over for his second try...

6:51pm

6:44pm

The diminutive Brook scores the conversion to make it 40-16 with 19 minutes remaining....

6:43pm

Todd Binns scores a delightful try after Bateman put Brook away... scintillating stuff..!!

6:41pm

It is now 34-16 to the Bulls with 22 minutes remaining...

6:41pm

Brook adds the extras in front of coach Francis Cummins, who has arrived with the first-team squad...
 

6:40pm

Stephen Copeland stretches the Bulls' lead after barrelling over from close range... 32-16 with the kick to come...

6:38pm

Bulls coming back into the game as the hour mark approaches... another surging run from Bateman almost puts a team-mate over in the left corner... still 28-16...

6:36pm

Widnes have scored their third try which Tom Gilmore has converted... now 28-16 to the Bulls... 52 mins gone.

6:36pm

6:31pm

6:31pm

Widnes player Alma Tagayuna carried off on a stretcher following a tackle...

6:26pm

Kyle Moore has scored after more fine work from Bateman... it's now 28-10 to the Bulls with 44 minutes played.
 

6:15pm

6:14pm

6:11pm

The Bulls' young guns lead 24-10 at the break... John Bateman taking centre stage with a hat-trick of tries.

6:09pm

Tom Gilmore's conversion makes it 10-24... almost half-time...

6:08pm

Jack Owens scampers clear for a second Widnes try...
 

6:07pm

Sam Wood enjoying a fine game at left-centre for the Bulls...
 

6:06pm

Widnes enjoying another spell of pressure now but the Bulls' scrambling defence is impressive again... still 24-4...

6:04pm

Will Bateman's performance here put him in contention to play first-team against Hull KR next week? You would certainly think so.

6:01pm

Some fine defending keeping Widnes at bay again here... but they have eventually scored through Kane Ditchfield in the right corner...
 

5:59pm

5:58pm

Omar Khan, Simon Kenny and Ryan Whitcut all here in the stands...

5:55pm

The 19-year-old touches down a loose ball for his third try and Brook's conversion makes it 24-0...
 

5:54pm

HAT-TRICK for Bateman!!

5:54pm

Brook has converted from the left-hand touchline again... so it's now 18-0 to the Bulls...

5:53pm

John Bateman has scored his second after another formidable run... safe to say he's match fit!!!

5:50pm

Interesting to note that it is often taking three or four Widnes players to stop Bateman...

5:49pm

Alex Mellor has scored a third try for the Bulls...but it is chalked off for offside. Looked harsh to say the least.

5:47pm

The Bulls Academy are still 12-0 up after keeping Widnes at bay with some impressive scrambling defence...

5:42pm

Great to see John Bateman back in the thick of things... he looks in a class of his own.

5:42pm

5:40pm

Sam Wood has scored a second try for the Bulls' young guns after a formidable run from John Bateman...

5:38pm

The Bulls' Academy side, led by John Bateman, are currently 6-0 up against their Widnes counterparts...

5:37pm

Welcome from the Stobart Stadium, Widnes...