Bradford Bulls beat Halifax Panthers in Christmas Challenge

BRADFORD Bulls gave an one-for-all and all-for-one performance to defeat derby rivals Halifax Panthers 24-16 in a wet and windy Christmas Challenge match at Odsal on Christmas Eve.

Despite the visitors having intense pressure in both halves, the hosts conceded only three tries - two in the first half and one in the second, when the wind and rain was blowing into their faces - to emerge triumphant.

And the Panthers must have been wondering just who they had offended when they trailed 18-0 after 26 minutes, having had the vast majority of the attacking opportunities.

By then, Halifax-born Chester Butler, fellow second row Brad England and replacement George Flanagan had scored tries for the Bulls, with Jordan Lilley landing all three goals.

By half-time, the match had a fairer look about it as the Panthers had reduced the deficit to 18-10 via tries by centre Ben Tibbs and full back James Woodburn-Hall, with Joe Keyes adding a goal.

It did not take long for Halifax to score in the second half as experienced winger Greg Eden pounced on a kick to the corner in the second minute as Halifax-born Will Oakes lost his bearings, Keyes’ excellent goal-kick making it 18-16.

But somehow, with the wind and rain now driving into their faces, Eamon O’Carroll’s team remarkably did not conceded any more points, although they had to defend five successive sets of six.

And, in a game that was better than anyone had a right to expect, the Bulls sealed victory with six minutes remaining when youngster Jayden Myers slithered over, with Billy Jowitt then nailing the touchline kick.

Winger Oakes, prop Dan Smith and hooker Mitch Souter made their starting debuts for Bulls, while Aidan McGowan, Will Adams, Dom Waites, Dan Moss, Eliot Peposhi and Jamie Gill made their first bows off the bench.

Halifax, for whom coach Liam Finn was also in charge for the first time as was O’Carroll in the adjacent dug-out, included two players with long connections to the Bulls in Adam O’Brien and Keyes and four others who had been on loan in James Saltonstall, Dan Murray, Jacob Fairbank and Kevin Larroyer.

Bulls started the match with a strong wind behind them blowing off the terraces and the early phase was punctuated by knock-ons and poor tactical kicking.

The hosts struck with their first attack in the 12th minute, with stand-off Lee Gaskell’s short pass wrong-footing the Panthers defence for Butler to score and Lilley convert.

Chester Butler particularly enjoys getting one over Halifax, his former club and his hometown. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

And it got worse for Halifax eight minutes later when Lilley’s kick through was inadvertently slowed down by Woodburn-Hall for England to pounce, with Lilley again doing the honours with the kick.

O’Carroll’s team then showed their flair in the 26th minute, despite the conditions, with winger Jorge Taufua and centre Kieran Gill linking well down the left in a fine team move that ended with Flanagan scoring for Lilley to add the extras.

Trailing 18-0, Halifax must have been wondering whether there was any justice in life so dominant they had been in terms of possession and territory, but they felt better by half-time as they had reduced the deficit to 18-10.

In the 31st minute, Tibbs went over from a pass by stand-off Louis Jouffret, with Keyes adding the goal, and with Flanagan sin-binned for a tackle, Woodburn-Hall scored in the final minute of the half, Keyes’ goal attempt being held up by the wind.

Two minutes into the second half, Halifax scored again when Oakes was left clutching at thin air from a high kick, with Eden scoring and Keyes nailing the goal kick from the touchline.

Bulls’ margin was now just two points and, despite their backline showing some nerves and Halifax camping in their 20, notably for five successive sets, somehow the Bulls dam didn’t break when it seemed it surely must.

By now rain was sweeping downfield on the wind from the terrace end into the Bulls players’ faces, but 40-20s and the concession of goal-line drop-outs did not alter the home players’ determination to hold out.

And they sealed victory on the 74th minute with a try from centre Myers, the ball popping up like a cork from a bottle during the attack, with Jowitt kicking a magnificent goal from the touchline.