BULLS won their second-successive game, grabbing a 31-12 win at Swinton Lions today.

T&A sports reporter Brad Deas gives his game guide and player ratings from the Championship clash.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jy Hitchcox. Much of the good Bulls did in the first half came courtesy of Hitchcox and he stormed on to lead the way as Bulls romped home in the second. Minchella’s early second half try came via a neat flick from Hitchcox, behind his back.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Probably has the be the way the referee handled the first half. There were over a dozen penalties awarded in the first half alone, without a single player being binned.

This was a physical, intense match.

A good thing, for sure. But the constant stop-start nature of the game due to a lack control from the referee made for tedious viewing at times, and the fans certainly shared that sentiment.

TACTICS

John Kear named an unchanged squad for this tie, as well as starting the same 13 as he did against Featherstone Rovers last weekend.

New signing, prop Olsi Krasniqi, wasn’t in the squad as his loan deal is expected to be officially completed today.

In the second half, Kear made a tactical switch to move Minchella into the middle of the park and said this made a big difference in the game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Where the pendulum switched – Sam Hallas put in a huge challenge which led to the Swinton Lions letting the ball go loose. From the following scrum, a bit of fantastic play from Chisholm and a solid collection from Ryan led to the Bulls levelling the tie at 12-12.

This came after a half where the Lions were in control until this moment in the final ten, and the Bulls then went on to gain a slender just before the break.

PLAYERS RATINGS

Bulls: Pickersgill 6, Hitchcox 9, Evans 7, Webster 6, Ryan 7, Chisholm 8, Lilley 8, Kirk 6, Wildie 7, Crossley 7, Farrell 6, Minchella 7, Hallas 8.

Interchange: Flanagan 7, Green 6, Oakes 6, Wood 6

Lions: Hansen 6, Butt 7, Lloyd 6, Hankinson 7, Forsyth 7, Smith 6, Fairclough 8, Bennion 6, Waterworth 6, Hatton 6, Shelford 6, Paisley 7, Byrne 6.

Interchanges: Austin 6, Brickhill 6, Halton 6, Jones 6.

GAME GUIDE

Half-time: 12-14

Referee: John McMullen

Attendance: 1498

Bulls – Tries: Wildie, Ryan, Minchella, Crossley, Evans

Bulls – Goals: Chisholm (4), Penalty Kicks: Chisholm, Drop goals: Lilley

Lions – Tries: Butt, Forsyth

Lions – Goals: Hankinson, Penalty Kicks: Hankinson

Penalties awarded: Bulls (16), Lions (10)

Goal-line drop-outs: Bulls (1), Lions (0)