Bulls' tries a joy to behold as Eagles are thrashed

WHEN you have just lost to a relegated part-time team, you simply have to win the following week and win well.

The Bulls did that yesterday, crushing crisis-torn Sheffield with a style and a panache that went a long way towards exorcising the demons of the Workington debacle seven days previously.

Rohan Smith’s men reduced the Eagles to so much rubble during a one-sided encounter.

The Bulls’ teamwork was matchless, their conviction unshakeable.

Some of their tries were a joy to behold and nobody impressed more than full back Kieren Moss, who touched down four times in a brilliant individual performance.

Moss was everywhere in the Odsal sunshine; a bewildering, untameable presence who constantly wrought havoc, breaking forward from the back to create chances for himself and others.

The Australian was upstaged, though, in the second half by academy centre Ross Oakes, who came off the bench in the 49th minute and scored a hat-trick of his own.

It was a dream home debut for the boyhood Bulls fan from Birkenshaw and underlined his rich potential.

Bradford can now look forward to a home semi-final against Dewsbury on Sunday and they will hope to lift the Championship Shield a week later in a final against Halifax or Sheffield.

Sheffield’s previous visit to Bradford in early April saw them romp to a 46-28 victory.

That day marked one of the lowest points of the Bulls’ season and Jimmy Lowes quit two weeks later.

Smith’s reign as Bradford boss had begun with a hard-fought victory at Sheffield on May 20.

That was four months ago and four months is a long time at the Bulls, the club where so much happens on and off the field.

Managing director Steve Ferres and chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul have both resigned since the Bulls failed to make the top four.

Marc Green admitted in his programme notes that he was “still reeling” from not making the Qualifiers but insisted the club would be remaining full-time as they gear up for a third year in the Championship under his stewardship.

Green said the players who have been signed for next year demonstrate “our commitment to achieving the ultimate goal – promotion.”

Next season will certainly be the time for less chaos and more progress.

Encouragingly, Smith has a fine core of players to build from in Moss, Dane Chisholm and the returning Leon Pryce.

The squad is gradually taking place but one man who will not be here next year is Lewis Charnock.

The on-loan St Helens scrum half is out of contract at his parent club and the Bulls’ roster of half-backs and hookers is fully stocked.

Nevertheless, Charnock marked his return to the side yesterday with the game’s opening try inside the second minute.

After the Bulls penned Sheffield back towards their own line, Charnock sent a teasing grubber kick behind the visiting rearguard.

Eagles full back Quentin Laulu-Togagae should have had little problem fielding the ball but somehow spilled it and Charnock advanced forward to touch down.

Charnock added the extras and the visitors enjoyed a brief spell of pressure at the other end of the field as Adam Neal almost barrelled over from Cory Aston’s short pass.

Centre George Tyson then went close in the left corner but the momentum remained largely with the Bulls and they soon had a second try.

Sheffield lost possession on their own 20-metre line and Chisholm gratefully scooped up the ball and advancing on a surging run down the left flank.

Moss, typically, was there to support him and as he was about to be tackled, the full back played the ball back to Chisholm on the left flank.

Moss’ offload looked clearly forward but Chisholm grounded the ball and referee Andy Sweet awarded the try, much to the disgust of the Sheffield players.

It was largely one-way traffic and it came as no surprise to anyone when Tom Olbison claimed a third home score in the 16th minute.

The homegrown forward, who is out of contract at the end of the season and still waiting to discover if he will be offered a new deal, collected possession around 20 metres out.

He showed impressive pace and footwork to step through a gap in the leaden-footed Sheffield defence to score a fine individual try which Charnock improved to make it 16-0.

It would be harsh to say the game was effectively over at that point – but it wouldn’t be too far wide of the mark.

Adam Sidlow was then held up but the procession continued in the 25th minute when Moss made yet another break from full back, driving at the heart of the Sheffield defence before swapping passes with Kris Welham and racing from 40 metres.

In the 31st minute, Chisholm took a pass from Adam O’Brien and dinked a clever grubber kick through Sheffield defence and right into the path of Ethan Ryan, who dived on the ball in the left corner.

Two minutes later, the influential O’Brien’s surging run took him past a clutch of defenders before he showed intelligence to send the supporting Jay Pitts racing clear from 20 metres out.

Pitts celebrated with gusto and it was quite obvious what the try meant to him and the free-scoring forward will be sorely missed next season.

Homegrown prop Liam Kirk came off the bench to make his home debut during the opening period before Oakes did likewise early in the second half.

The amount of academy players making their mark in the first-team is heartening and bodes well for the club’s future.

Sheffield, it has to be said, offered precious little yesterday and they shipped a seventh try in the 48th minute when Chisholm darted through a gap to score his second.

Chisholm and Welham then combined to find Ryan on the left flank but the winger dropped the ball and the opportunity was spurned.

Mitch Clark, Kirk and O'Brien were replaced by Sidlow, Danny Addy and Kavanagh as the hour mark approached and the Bulls soon scored again when Oakes touched down in the right corner.

Oakes, deployed on the right wing after replacing Danny Williams, then took a fine pass from Chisholm to score his second before he was on hand again to complete his treble from Olbison’s offload.

Three tries in nine minutes was quite some feat for the youngster, but it was soon time for Moss to reclaim centre stage.

First he took a smart offload from Ben Kavanagh to score and then he collected Addy’s short pass to power over from close range.

Ryan then touched down in the left corner before Moss unselfishly sent Sidlow galloping under the posts when he could have easily scored himself.

Sidlow celebrated his try on his 100th appearance for the Bulls in style and then booted the conversion himself.

Moss then completed the scoring late on after good work from Welham and Ryan to cap thoroughly good afternoon’s work.