Swinton Lions 16, Bradford Bulls 48

IT is getting on for two years since Marc Green took his seat at Widnes in what was his first match as owner of Bradford Bulls.

The club was then in Super League and lost 22-18 to Denis Betts’ side that day to remain on minus two points following their six-point penalty for entering administration.

Twenty-three months later and Green was again perched high in the Select Security Stadium’s main stand on Saturday evening.

This time the Odsal chairman was all smiles after a comprehensive victory which left the Bulls with a 100 per cent record after three games.

Thus it was a more pleasing outcome than Bradford’s last visit here during that disastrous 2014 season which saw the club sleepwalk towards relegation.

Now in their second year outside the top flight, the Bulls’ victory over Swinton was a match that so typified the Championship.

Blood and thunder, a messy ruck, questionable officiating, and ultimately a full-time side overcoming part-time opposition with plenty to spare.

The Bulls outscored John Duffy’s side by nine tries to three, with former Hull KR centre Kris Welham underlining his class with a well-taken hat-trick.

Yet there will be plenty for Jimmy Lowes to work on when he sits down and reviews the DVD of the game with his players this week.

Bradford struggled for fluency with the ball at times and conceded well over a dozen penalties, as did Swinton.

Referee Chris Kendall incurred the wrath of both sets of supporters for that, but Lowes was honest enough to admit his side lacked discipline and switched off for periods of the game.

With big-spending promotion rivals Leigh next up at Odsal on Sunday, Lowes said: “It was too ‘switch on/switch off’ from us and we need to be a lot better than what we were.

“I thought we were a little bit slow with the ball in hand.

“We had spells where we looked good but other times we were sloppy with the ball and loose in the carry with too many cheap turnovers.

“We didn’t help ourselves and we are going to find it difficult because teams want to have a go and rightly so.

“We gave the ball away cheaply to Swinton and conceded a really soft try in the first half, which gave them energy.

“I’ve seen a bit of Leigh and they’re a good side. We can’t afford to be turning over as much ball as we did against Swinton.

“Leigh have signed Super League quality players, so it’ll be all on this week and I’m looking forward to it.”

Lowes rested Richie Mathers and Kurt Haggerty with Oscar Thomas making his competitive debut at full back.

Joe Lumb, who appears to have overtaken Vila Halafihi in the pecking order as Adam O’Brien’s deputy, came off the bench in the final quarter.

It was a proud moment for the local lad and boyhood Bulls fan who played his amateur rugby at Wibsey and West Bowling.

Lowes said: “Lumby has certainly impressed in pre-season games and with his attitude in training.

“I just thought he deserved his chance and there is no reason why he can’t go on to decent things.”

The match was moved to Widnes because the stadium that Swinton use at Sedgley Park does not meet RFL requirements.

Three sides of the ground were closed, with just the main stand open, with around 300 Swinton fans on one side and the other side filled with a Bradford following double that figure.

It made for a decent atmosphere and the Bulls soon led when Kendall penalised Swinton and Bradford advanced upfield.

The Bulls worked the ball from right to left before Lee Gaskell’s neat pass sent Tom Olbison bustling over the line in the third minute.

Olbison was named at prop for the second week running, raising yet more questions about the future of Epalahame Lauaki, who was again left out altogether.

Moments later, Thomas demonstrated his speed when he embarked on a searing break down the right flank which almost took him all the way.

His progress was halted and Swinton soon got the bit between their teeth.

Swinton, featuring Connor Dwyer, son of former Bradford star Bernard Dwyer, and Bradford lad Liam Hood in their starting line-up, began to ask some questions of their own.

Hood, formerly of Leeds Rhinos and Salford, was particularly prominent at hooker for Swinton and at the heart of all their most promising attacks.

Purtell was then denied by Macaulay Hallett after collecting Gaskell’s pass before Dale Ferguson forced Swinton to drop out as he attempted to chase his own grubber kick.

Swinton centre Rhodri Lloyd was then denied from close range before the Bulls scored their second try when Welham finished off some slick handling in the right corner.

Six minutes later, Welham grabbed his second after the ball went through five pairs of hands in another impressive sequence.

Yet Swinton, roared on by their small but noisy following, got a well-deserved try in the 27th minute when replacement Josh Barlow barrelled over the line from close range.

Chris Atkin converted to make it 16-6 and moments later Ben White almost claimed a second Swinton try when he almost grounded his own teasing grubber kick, forcing the Bulls to drop out in the process.

At that point, the momentum was all with Swinton, with Bradford not helping themselves, but then the momentum swung hugely in the Bulls’ favour.

With Swinton pushing hard for a second try deep in Bradford territory, ambition got the better of Atkin as Omari Caro intercepted his pass 10 metres from the Bulls’ line and scampered clear to score.

With Mitch Clark impressing off the bench again, Bradford struck a fifth try three minutes before half-time when James Clare went over in the left corner from O’Brien’s quick pass.

That made it 26-6 at the break and effectively game over, but Swinton had a right go from start to finish and kept coming at Bradford through the middle.

Matty Blythe scored a well-executed try in the 45th minute after weaving through a gap inside the right channel to touch down in acrobatic fashion.

Welham then claimed his third try after good work from Clark and Addy before Swinton then hit back with two more scores of their own.

Shaun Robinson went over in the right corner and then Greg Scott touched down on the opposite flank five minutes later.

That made it 38-16 to Bradford with 15 minutes remaining but Olbison was on hand to touch down after good work from Lumb, Thomas and Gaskell, who completed the scoring late on after Atkin had seen a try chalked off for Swinton.

Attendance: 900