REPORT: Bulls learn their lessons with return to winning ways

TO BORROW a phrase from Daniel Murray, this was supposed to be the zero party.

Rumour had it there was even an Odsal photo shoot pencilled in to mark the return to Championship terra firma.

But any “celebration” to acknowledge banishing all the penalty points will have to wait at least until Halifax on Good Friday.

The ragged performance against Oldham had ensured that – and delivered the slap in the face that was probably needed. It was a painful reminder that the road to survival remains a long one.

The short, sharp shock of Bower Fold ensured there was absolutely no room for complacency against another part-time opponent yesterday.

And but for too many penalties – again – this was a pretty convincing response from Leigh Beattie/Geoff Toovey’s men. Lessons had clearly been taken on board.

James Bentley had a day to remember with four of the eight Bulls tries, backed up by an immaculate kicking exhibition from Oscar Thomas, showing no discomfort from the big toe injury which had kept him out for the last couple of weeks.

It was not as emphatic as the final scoreline might suggest. But play like this again in the big West Yorkshire derby on Friday and that deduction will be dust.

After last week’s lacklustre loss, it was a boost for the Bulls to see Leon Pryce back in the ranks. His game management and leadership had been missed.

There were positional tinkers as Omari Caro returned to more familiar territory out wide from second row and Ethan Ryan moved inside to centre.

Former Hunslet forward James Davies was also involved for the first time after impressing on trial. He had been playing union recently with Morley.

Sheffield’s 46-28 success at Odsal this time last year was only their fourth in 23 attempts and they lost both subsequent Championship Shield visits.

But Mark Aston’s side arrived yesterday on the back of successive wins, including last week’s impressive scalp of London Broncos.

There were some big hitters among the Odsal audience with several head honchos from Super League looking on.

Ryan has been tipped for a top-flight future and he wasted no time in pouncing on a horrendous Eagles miscommunication to claim his eighth try of the season.

A high bomb from Oscar Thomas caused huge confusion between Ryan Millar and Gary Lo, who allowed the ball to bounce in the back field and Ryan needed no further invitation to seize on it.

Better soon followed as a bullet pass from the influential Scott Moore sent in James Bentley for a quick-fire second score.

It was just what the doctor ordered to clear any lingering hangover from the previous game.

Eagles should have responded but twice blew promising positions with forward passes when they were knocking on the door. Once again, the Bulls were threatening to shoot themselves in the foot with a high penalty count.

Territorially, Sheffield were right back into it with the home side forced into three goalline drop-outs. And the pressure told on the half hour as loose forward William Hope bulldozed in from a Matty Fozard’s defence-opening pass.

But having clawed their way back, the Eagles instantly blew it when Menzie Yere was yellow-carded for upending Johnny Campbell.

Bulls immediately took advantage against the 12 men as Ross Oakes stepped his way through for the third try.

And with the visitors still reeling, Bentley helped himself to his second of the day with the finish after breaking the line from 30 metres out with Oakes. Thomas, having a perfect game with the boot, underlined the growing confidence by landing the extras from the touchline.

Jordan Lilley saw an attempted drop-goal blocked but the Bulls had cashed in on the ten minutes following Yere’s indiscipline to take a firm grip on proceedings at the interval.

That domination looked set to continue from the restart after Mark Mexico coughed up a cheap penalty. Pryce went close before Murray took three tacklers with him over the line.

Mexico’s problems increased when he spilled the ball as he looked set to score.

Winger Ben Blackmore did touch down after some quick handling from the Sheffield backs but Simon Brown hooked the conversion.

The contest was getting scrappier as the heat began to have an effect. Every time the Eagles looked to mount a fightback, they would inevitably drop the ball.

But the Bulls had lost the attacking impetus from the first half – and Sheffield struck again to make things more interesting.

Jake Spedding beat Omari Caro’s on the left side of defence and Blackmore claimed his second try with a one-handed put-down. Brown’s curling kick cut the lead to 14 points at the midpoint of the half.

The tension was building as Sheffield forced another penalty close in – which eased when Fozard attempted an off-load on the first tackle and knocked on right under the posts.

Moore tried to ease the nerves but was held up as he tried to nip over from dummy half.

But there was no need to worry as the Bulls delivered a treble blast in the final ten minutes to make sure.

First Bentley sealed his hat-trick as Moore’s intelligent play released Caro on the left flank before the supporting youngster finished off.

He then added a fourth to his personal tally, stepping inside before stretching to score.

But Bulls weren’t finished as Campbell showed the shattered Sheffield defence a clean pair of heels to power away for an eighth home try.

Operations director Russ McFarlane had suggested beforehand that the club expect to finally be in position to officially announce Toovey’s appointment this week. The border licence application is in and expected any day.

It looks as if the Aussie will be ready to take the reins for Easter party time.