Bradford Bulls leave it late to seal thrilling win over Kear's Widnes

WINS don’t feel better than that!

The Bulls left it late to clinch a dramatic victory over Widnes yesterday - and former coach John Kear.

Tom Holmes raced over in the last minute before Dec Patton, who had a hand in all three tries, held his nerve to slot the decisive extras.

The roar around Odsal said it all as Bulls fans were caught up in the emotion of the moment.

And you could see what it meant to Mark Dunning in the scenes of celebration after the hooter sounded.

Dunning had demanded a reaction from his players after last week’s 32-16 loss at York - a performance littered with errors off the ball and a poor completion rate.

He certainly got that against the previously-unbeaten Vikings to the delight of the 4,827 crowd.

Papua New Guinea international Keven Appo made his much-anticipated first appearance in Bulls colours - and wasted no time in making his mark.

Just ask Lewis Hatton, who he flattened to the floor with a juddering opening contact to announce his arrival in the Championship.

Bodene Thompson led the side in the absence of skipper Michael Lawrence who pulled out with a slight knee problem.

But he was forced off just before the dramatic conclusion with a head knock - and concussion protocol means he will not be able to face Toulouse on Saturday.

David Foggin-Johnston plunges in for the first try (Image: Tom Pearson)

Masi Matongo will also be missing after dislocating his shoulder on his second Bulls “debut”.

The Zimbabwe-born prop, who played one game on loan under Kear in 2021, was in tears in the changing room as he waited for the ambulance to take him to hospital to have it put back into place.

They were the setbacks for Dunning on an afternoon of generally overwhelming positives - particularly the glorious finale.

Kear had won 23-10 on his first return to Odsal for the final game of last season. But neither side bore much resemblance to that September afternoon - particularly the hosts.

Dunning also pointed out afterwards that the performance had little in common with that served up against the Knights six days earlier.

Widnes included former Bulls Ryan Millar, whose four tries from the opening two games was already halfway towards his total from last year, and Ant Walker.

The Bulls had to do plenty of defending in the opening exchanges after allowing Danny Craven’s opening kick-off to bounce into touch.

Having stood firm on their line, they then had to survive another angled kick from Craven that Shane Grady could not claim.

Patton’s kicking eased the pressure and his grubber almost resulted in a diving score from David Foggin-Johnston as it rolled over the dead ball line.

Birthday boy Ben Blackmore scores his 100th career try (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Joe Edge made a roving run deep into Bulls territory before he was hauled down but again they defused the danger.

Brad England lost the ball as the Bulls threatened to break the deadlock and a bit of last-tackle invention between Jordan Lilley and Holmes almost found a hole in the retreating Vikings.

It remained scoreless as Adam Lawton was held up trying to charge under the Bulls posts.

Matongo and Appo came on just in time for their new team to notch the game’s first points on 27 minutes. Appo had a hand in the build-up before Patton’s bullet pass took out two white shirts and Kieran Gill released Foggin-Johnston to go over in the corner.

But the Vikings quickly hit back. Holmes was sin-binned for booting the ball away in frustration after a fracas behind the posts as Widnes forced a goalline drop-out and the visitors took advantage of their extra man for Shane Grady to stroll in from five metres.

Bulls were still down to 12 on the resumption but Matongo brought a big cheer on Widnes’ first attack with a thumping hit to force the ball loose.

Holmes returned in time for the hosts to go close as Thompson was pinned on his back as he scrambled over the line. Patton then looked to go in all by himself but play was pulled back for obstruction as he ducked behind a team-mate.

But there was no denying them after 53 minutes, Patton drilling another quick ball wide for Ben Blackmore to mark his 30th birthday with his 100th career try.

Having shown safe hands defensively after being constantly targeted by Craven's angled kicks to the corner, the Bulls winger seized the chance created by Patton to put them back in front.

The good start to the half continued as Millar coughed up a high kick under heavy Bulls pressure. Appo, George Roby and Thompson knocked on the door before Grady neatly snaffled up Patton’s grubber kick.

Mark Dunning enjoys the Bulls win with Keven Appo (Image: Tom Pearson)

But Appo was penalised for a high tackle on Lewis Hatton and Kieran Dixon’s kick from 30 metres levelled things up.

Widnes went back in front through Lawton who took Craven’s pass and overpowered three defenders to crash his way over.

George Flanagan snr and Fenton Rogers were both denied as the Bulls looked to reply in a contest that was still too close to call.

Rogers produced a big hit in front of his own posts to thwart Walker from scoring against his old club as Widnes tried to go in for the kill.

But the Bulls weren’t done and produced a grandstand finish to grab the win.

Holmes took Patton’s short pass at full tilt to burst through from five metres - and the stand-off, who had missed the previously two testing conversions, made it third time lucky with the add-ons.

That sent the crowd wild - and the roar was just as loud when the Bulls safely pouched the short kick-off that followed to make absolutely sure.

BULLS: Holmes; Blackmore, Arundel, Gill, Foggin-Johnston; Patton, Lilley; Baldwinson, Flanagan snr, Rogers, England, Butler, Thompson. Interchange: Appo, Roby, Matongo, Wallace.

WIDNES: Owens; Millar, Fleming, Edge, Dixon; Craven, Lyons; Walker, Fozard, Amor, Grady, Davies, Bent. Interchange: Brown, Field, Hatton, Lawton.

BULLS MAN OF MATCH: Dec Patton - had a hand in all three tries and then kept his cool to nail the game-winning kick.