BRADFORD Bulls ran in five tries to beat Newcastle Thunder 28-8 at Odsal Stadium – with a dominant defensive display laying the foundations for an impressive win.

A tight first-half saw the home side take a slender lead into the break, before four second-half scores saw the Academy outfit seal the spoils despite two late consolation efforts.

Bradley Gallagher was put through a gap in the Thunder defence before handing off to the supporting Luke Littlewood to touch down under the sticks for the game’s opening try.

After the break, Leigh Beattie’s side continued to assert their dominance on the visitors and Sam Smith was next to go over to stretch the hosts into double figures.

The centre stepped and brushed off two would-be defenders having received a pass from Matthew Race – who laid on a third Bradford try soon after.

On the back of a penalty, the home side found themselves 10 metres out where a slick move saw Race find the onrushing Billy Jowitt who ran through a gap to dive over.

Race turned provider to scorer with a quick-fire brace – his first, bamboozling the Newcastle defence by throwing a dummy before going through the resulting gap on the Thunder line.

The half-back’s step again proved too much for the opposition defence – adding his fourth conversion to take his personal tally to 16 points.

Two late Newcastle tries proved only consolation scores however, the Academy side making it back-to-back wins with an impressive display.

Bradford Bulls Academy: Billy Jowitt, Murphy Smith, Will Adams, Sam Smith, Daniel McGrath, Luke Littlewood, Matthew Race, Ethan O’Hanlon, Cameron Berry, Ebon Scurr, Bradley Gallagher, Isaac Coleman, Lochlan McGill. Interchanges: Ho, Heywood, Whitaker.

Tries: Race (2), Littlewood, S Smith, Jowitt

Goals: Race (4/5)