Betfred Championship: Bradford Bulls 24 Halifax 20

NERVES were shredded on Armed Forces Day at Odsal as Bradford Bulls let a 20-6 lead against Halifax become 24-20 after the sin-binning of George Flanagan.

However, the home side held on to beat their Championship derby rivals, with tries by Ethan Ryan, Elliot Minchella and Jy Hitchcox (2), with fellow comeback kid Joe Keyes landing four goals out of six.

Halifax replied with tries by Shaun Robinson, Brandon Moore and Quentin Laulu-Togagae, with Steve Tyrer landing four kicks from as many attempts.

Victory was revenge for recent Summer Bash and Challenge Cup defeats to their neighbours - but more importantly reignited their top-five play-off bid after the previous week's chastening loss at Leigh.

None of the 26 players or referee Jack Smith needed their ears syringing after the kick-off had been preceded by the boom of an L118 field gun to mark the hosts' Armed Forces Day.

The Bulls welcomed back winger Jy Hitchcox for his first game since February after a shoulder injury, while Joe Keyes was playing his first competitive game of the season after a recurring back injury.

Full back Brandon Pickersgill and second-row forward Connor Farrell also returned, while Bradfordian Will Sharp was among those back in for Halifax as were Liam Cooper and Chester Butler.

Visitors Halifax had won eight of their last 10 against the Bulls, including three out of four this season, with the only Bradford successes coming by 33-26 in the Championship in April and by 44-22 in the Championship Shield at Odsal in August 2016.

Halifax kicked off playing towards the open terracing and the Bulls won early applause for shoving winger Shaun Robinson into touch on their right near halfway.

The hosts then made that count as Ryan seized on Keyes’ kick on the left to score in the fifth minute, with Keyes then nailing the conversion to make it 6-0.

Steve Tyrer then almost broke away for Halifax but Hitchcox did enough to force a knock-on.

Halifax were then penalised for moving off the mark, leaving Keyes with an easy penalty in the 12th minute to make it 8-0.

Keyes was helping to make the Bulls tick on his return, but Pickersgill then did well to drop on a Halifax kick over the top as it curled infield.

Halifax won two straight penalties and capitalised, with Robinson going over on the left in the 20th minute after the visitors created a two on one. Tyrer nailed the conversion.

A knock-on put the Bulls on the offensive and a Steve Crossley charge was repelled before the busy Jake Webster was held up but Keyes’ chip ahead was then too deep.

Sustained Bulls pressure, with Crossley used as a battering ram and Webster doing well to keep possession, had its reward when a diagonal Jordan Lilley grubber was seized on by Minchella in the 28th minute. Keyes added the goal from just to the right of the posts.

Webster showed his experience in defence after Halifax won their third penalty, grappling to earn back possession.

Then Ross Peltier came onto the field - despite not being on the teamsheet!

Apparently Colton Roche was the man who should not have been among the 17.

Webster's flicked pass on the right gave Hitchcock the chance to show his Ethan Ryan-like acrobatics in the 33rd minute and score by the right-hand flag.

Keyes knocked over the goal with the help of the far upright to make it 20-6.

A touch judge came onto the field with his flag raised in the 38th minute to draw attention to a Halifax misdemeanour and give the Bulls a penalty.

Sam Hallas was held up over the line before Keyes’ kick to the left touchline floated long.

A high tackle on Scott Murrell in the last minute of the half gave Tyrer a penalty chance, which he took to make it 20-8 at half-time.

The Bulls were then the first to score in the second half as Webster put Hitchcox over on the right for his second try in the third minute after the interval, with Keyes pulling his goal attempt across the face of the posts.

Keyes puts the visitors on the defensive with a telling grubber 12 minutes in but the Bulls conceded a penalty as Halifax were running the ball out, and then another, this time by Peltier.

However, Webster diffused the bomb, despite not being the tallest.

Scott Grix's kick then gave the Bulls the chance to counter attack via Pickersgill and Keyes, who went striding down the left but his inside pass along the floor did not go to hand.

Flanagan was sin-binned for a trip on Grix, but Ryan then intercepted to end a spell of Halifax pressure after the visitors won a penalty for a high tackle.

Halifax made the extra man count with a try by Brandon Moore after a Quentin Laulu-Togagae offload had put Jacob Fairbank clear in the 64th minute. Tyrer added an easy goal.

And it got worse for the Bulls two minutes later after Tyrer put QLT in. Tyrer's kick just crept over by the near post and it was game on.

The Bulls caused consternation by letting a Murrell kick bounce twice near their 20-metre line, only to be saved seconds later by a knock-on.

Referee Smith was not popular after ruling that Halifax hadn't knocked on on their left as tensions rose on and off the field but Tyrer calmed home nerves by knocking on a high kick.

It was well inside the last 10 minutes now and there was more abuse towards the officials as Flanagan's drilled kick was not ruled as a Halifax knock-on after bouncing back towards the Bulls.

Some of the 5,203 spectators chose to leave early - surprising as this was a thrilling finish, with huge cheers ringing out as the Bulls won a penalty for obstruction after a high Keyes kick.

The half-back missed the penalty as it rattled against an upright and bounced out inside the last two minutes.

Halifax had a scrum inside the final 30 seconds but they knocked on and the Bulls held on to win an exciting derby - making it 2-2 in the fourth competitive clash between the sides this season.