LONDON BRONCOS 8 BRADFORD BULLS 34

FOUR tries in the final 15 minutes, including a Kieran Gill hat-trick, ensured the Bulls made Challenge Cup progress in the capital.

John Kear’s side put their recent league wobble behind them but it wasn’t as comfortable as the final margin suggested against a winless London.

The tie was still in the balance at 12-8 until the Bulls put the pedal down in the closing stages.

But having fallen away in the second half at Leigh in their last time out nearly a fortnight ago, Kear will have been encouraged by the defensive effort to keep the door shut on the Broncos as the game went on.

Elliot Hall finally made his Bulls bow after recovering from a hamstring tear in pre-season.

His appearance at full back saw Elliot Kear moving into the halves in place of the injured Billy Jowitt. Jordan Lilley travelled with the squad but is not quite ready to test his recovering knee.

Ebon Scurr’s return was another boost for Kear after being sidelined since the final friendly against Leeds. Fellow prop Samy Kibula was also given his first involvement.

Ryan Millar switched to the wing as David Foggin-Johnston began the first of his five-game ban for the high tackle that saw him red-carded at Leigh.

This was the sixth Challenge Cup meeting between the sides, dating back to London’s earliest days as Fulham. But it was new venue for the Bulls as their hosts now share AFC Wimbledon’s new Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Declan Patton’s forward pass spoiled the first scoring opportunity but the Bulls were on the board after 10 minutes as Hall’s quick hands fed Millar to go in the far corner for his first club try. Patton impressively nailed the touchline conversion - the first of his five kicks.

Iliess Macani had the chance of a quick response against his old club but the London winger failed to gather Oliver Leyland’s bouncing grubber kick as he took his eye off the ball with the line beckoning.

The Bulls then suffered the same way as Kear’s chip ran away from the lunge of Matty Dawson-Jones.

London were making plenty of metres but lacked the nous to find that scoring edge in threatening positions.

Scurr, who appeared to have beefed up considerably since last year, made an instant impacting by forcing the ball loose in a tackle.

The Bulls took full advantage from the ensuing set as Sam Scott went in on Patton’s pass for their second try.

But London then strung together their best passing move of the game just after the half hour to release Paul Ulberg for a jinking finish. Dan Coates’ conversion attempt sailed across the face of the posts.

It was a warning for the Bulls – and one they did not heed.

The home side were building a head of steam as the half-time hooter approached and rewarded their increasingly-vocal fans with a second try. Ulberg again was the scorer as London cashed in on sluggish defending to cut the gap to four points.

London had a spring in their step to start the second half and the crowd were certainly getting into it.

Patton was fuming when the ball appeared to be ripped from his grasp but London blew the opportunity with a forward pass.

Hall then burst forward promisingly but hurried a pass which Millar could not hang on to.

Sloppiness was creeping into the Bulls’ play. George Flanagan was awarded six again near the London line – only to be pulled back for a fluffed play-the-ball.

The Bulls escaped when Macani raced over but London’s celebrations were cut short for a forward pass.

Flanagan held up Calum Gahan on the line to prevent a third London score as the contest remain dangerously poised.

The Bulls needed some breathing space – and finally got it with a quickfire double from Gill.

He did well to ground Patton’s lofted kick in the tight in-goal and then finished off a burst from Millar to stroll in for a second try in as many minutes.

That put daylight between the sides but there was a late blow when Dawson-Jones was forced off with a whack in the mouth. They had already lost Rhys Evans to a dead leg.

Flanagan launched a dazzling break and Millar acrobatically hauled in the pass but was wrestled down just short of a fine finish.

But Flanagan got his score late on, enjoying the moment as he went in from Steve Crossley’s off-load.

And the Bulls weren’t done as Gill was in the right spot at the right time once again to collect another Patton kick to seal his personal hat-trick and give the final score a more lop-sided look.

LONDON: Moceidreke; Ulberg, Lato, Palumbo, Macani; Leyland, Coates; Foster, Gahan, Tuliatu, Lovell, Curran, Parata. Interchange: Ramsey, Williams, Vrahnos, Greenhalgh.

BULLS: Hall; Dawson-Jones, R Evans, Gill, Millar; Patton, Kear; Walker, Doyle, Crossley, Scott, Butler, B Evans. Interchange: Flanagan, Fleming, Scurr, Kibula.

BULLS MAN OF THE MATCH: Kieran Gill