Bulls back into top four as Roughyeds are dismantled

IT will take several more gallons of blood and sweat to cement a place in the end-of-season Qualifiers, but the Bulls are at least back where they need to be.

Last night’s victory over lowly Oldham lifted Rohan Smith’s men above Halifax and into fourth place in the Kingstone Press Championship.

For a club of Bradford’s size and resources, finishing in that position at the end of the 23 weekly rounds is the very least they should be achieving.

The Bulls lavish more money on backroom staff than numerous part-time clubs in the second tier such as Oldham spend on their playing squad.

This contest was a classic example of the gulf between the have and the have-nots in the Championship.

For much of the opening quarter at the picturesque surrounds of Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold, the chasm showed.

A much-changed Bradford side were impressive, clinically and ruthlessly dismantling Scott Naylor’s men with three early well-executed scores which effectively put the game to bed.

Lewis Charnock, who looks at home in a Bradford jersey and will clearly not be pushed about, added a fourth to make it 20-0 at the break.

The procession continued in the second half as the Bulls racked up five more tries amid a constant downpour of rain.

A far greater test awaits in the visit of Batley to Odsal on Sunday as the Bulls bid to record the win that would see them overtake John Kear’s men into third.

Kear was present last night on an intelligence-gathering operation but how much he will have learned is debatable as the Bulls are likely to be much-changed again at the weekend.

Men such as Danny Addy, Kieren Moss, Omari Caro, Epalahame Lauaki, Paul Clough, Danny Williams, Lee Gaskell, Adrian Purtell and Dale Ferguson were all missing last night.

Smith made six changes to the side who had claimed a slender win at Workington three days earlier.

It again underlined the depth of the playing pool at Odsal as fringe men such as Lucas Walshaw and Johnny Campbell started at right centre and left wing respectively.

There was also a return to action for Jonny Walker off the bench as Smith continues to give his full squad a chance to impress.

Contracts for 2017 and livelihoods are at stake as players battle to prove they deserve a new deal and be part of the new chapter being patiently written by Smith.

Campbell, in particular, took his chance with aplomb last night, superbly creating one try for Oscar Thomas and then touching down himself soon after for his first Bradford score.

A rousing minute’s applause held for Ronan Costello, the Huddersfield Giants academy player who so tragically passed away on Tuesday, was held before kick-off.

Oldham, who slumped to their seventh straight defeat, began brightly as they played down the sloped playing surface.

The pitch itself was excellent and, after Jamel Chisholm went close for Naylor’s side in the left corner, Bradford seized control.

Aided by back-to-back penalties, the visitors advanced upfield and led inside the fifth minute when Alex Mellor took a swift pass from Thomas to charge under the posts inside the right channel.

The second try arrived two minutes later when Campbell collected possession around 10 metres inside his own half, spotted a gap down the left flank and went for it.

He outpaced several Oldham defenders and only the pace of renowned speedster Chisholm could halt his progress.

Yet Campbell showed intelligence and a fine overhead pass saw him find Thomas in support, with the former London Broncos man scampering through the home rearguard from 10 metres out.

In truth it was all too easy but the large travelling support roared their delight as the Bulls went 10-0 up.

Oldham did not lack spirit and they fashioned a decent move which saw the ball worked out to Adam Clay in the right corner.

The winger appeared destined to score but he knocked on and the opportunity was spurned.

It turned out to be Oldham’s best opportunity of the first half and the pendulum quickly swung back in Bradford’s favour.

Kurt Haggerty should have finished off some brilliant inter-passing from Smith’s side as he dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

The penalty count weighed heavily in the Bulls’ favour and that ensured rookie referee Callum Straw – officiating only his second game at this level – attracted the wrath of the locals.

But Straw did not have a bad game and a third Bradford try underlined their attacking potential which will be needed to unlock Super League defences in the middle eights.

In an exhilarating attack, the ball passed through Tom Olbison, Thomas and James Clare before Kris Welham’s perfect pass sent the supporting Campbell over in the left corner.

At that point – 14-0 down with as minutes played – Oldham looked ripe to be massacred.

Yet they gradually steadied themselves and forced Bradford to drop out twice in quick succession with testing grubber kicks.

That defensive fortitude will have pleased Smith as much as his team’s attacking prowess because the Bulls have struggled badly all season to keep the opposition out.

Having kept their hosts at bay, Bradford grabbed a fourth try in the 33rd minute when Charnock, who had drawn a cynical trip from an Oldham defender when trying to collect his own grubber kick moments earlier, spun out of two tackles and sped over the line.

It was his second try in as many appearances since joining the Bulls on loan from St Helens and again underlined his talent.

A 20-0 interval advantage was a fair reflection of the opening 40 minutes and it did not take long to add a fifth try after the break.

It came in the 47th minute when a high kick from Charnock was spilled by the Oldham defence and Clare sent Mitch Clark bustling over the line.

Clark’s dad Trevor, the former Bradford Northern player, nodded his approval from the stands.

Three minutes later, Adam O’Brien was on the scoresheet as he dived over the line in trademark fashion from dummy half.

The incessant drizzle made handling conditions difficult and the Bulls were not helped either by the loss of Mellor to a head knock.

But they remained in firm control and Clare once again illustrated his eye for a try when he collected possession and touched down in the left corner

Charnock was also given a breather as Joe Lumb came off the bench to replace O’Brien at hooker and Haggerty moved into the halves.

O’Brien then came back on as the rain began to pour down and as the Bulls continued to rack up the points.

Clare did well to evade the attention of two Oldham defenders to catch and ground Thomas’ kick before Jay Pitts seized centre stage, racing 60 metres to saunter into the left corner for a stunning effort.

Oldham replied with a try from Sam Wood, who touched down Gareth Owen’s kick, but the Bulls had long since secured the points.