BULLS played their first game in nearly a year yesterday, and looked a little rusty as they slipped to a 26-22 home defeat against Swinton.

But they showed their class early on with a strong line-up, and their performance only really dipped in the last half-hour, by which point many of the youngsters and fringe players were on the pitch.

Check out our game guide and player ratings for the pre-season clash here:

MAN OF THE MATCH

Danny Brough pulled the strings at stand-off, but Matty Dawson-Jones just shades it. The winger produced a brilliant defensive catch to help set up the opening try, cleverly set up Ross Oakes for what should have been a second try, and scored the third one himself.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Probably that first try. Swinton full-back Mike Butt stabbed the ball through in a dangerous position, and it was superb work from Dawson-Jones to catch it on the full.

He then produced a superb saunter to the halfway line, escaping a couple of challenges, before offloading to Brandon Pickersgill at the perfect time, with the full-back running in to score from 50m out.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Both teams made plenty of substitutions, but it seemed to affect Bulls far more. They were poor in the second half, especially on the defensive end, and blew a 12-point lead to lose the game.

TACTICS

John Kear started with a strong team, with Danny Brough and Jordan Lilley partnering each other in the halves for the first time.

It was interesting to see Anthony Walker in from the start at prop, with Kear obviously having a lot of faith in the former Super League player, given he hadn't played a game since 2017.

GAME GUIDE

Half-time: 12-6

Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan)

Bulls - Tries: Pickersgill, Oakes, Dawson-Jones, Flanagan; Goals: Brough 2, Jowitt 1

Swinton - Tries: Hansen, Butt, Doyle, Meadows, Lloyd; Goals: Ridyard 3

PLAYER RATINGS

BULLS: Pickersgill 8, Brown 6, Hamlett 7, Oakes 6, Dawson-Jones 8, Brough 8, Lilley 5, Walker 6, Flanagan 7, Crossley 6, Gallagher 6, England 6, Fleming 6.

Interchange: Scurr 7, Doyle 6, Nzoungou 6, Foggin-Johnston 6, Wallis 6, Jowitt 6, Ho 6, Berry 6, Smith 6, O'Hanlon 6, Calland 5, Burton 6, Rooks 6.

SWINTON: Butt 7, Lepori 6, Cox 6, Forsyth 6, Doyle 8, Ridyard 8, Hansen 7, Brooks 6, Waterworth 6, Hatton 6, Lloyd 8, Gregson 6, Brogan 6.

Interchange: Brickhill 6, Green 6, Jones 6, Meadows 7, Grant 6, T. Brown 6, Roberts 6, Heyes 6, Nash 6, Kenga 6, J. Brown 6.