Bradford Bulls put on a scintillating display of attacking prowess as they decimated local rivals Keighley Cougars with an emphatic 74-12 victory in the Betfred Championship. Debutant Jorge Fautua and Kieran Gill stole the limelight with remarkable hat tricks, propelling the Bulls to fifth place in the league table.
Right from the start, the Bulls showed their intent as Lee Gaskell’s perfectly executed chip found its mark, with Ben Blackmore securing the first try of the match. Gaskell continued to showcase his creative genius by setting up AJ Wallace, who elegantly exploited a gap to increase the lead.
Dec Patton’s well-placed chip then found its way into the hands of Jorge Taufua, who expertly finished off the move to extend Bradford’s advantage. The dynamic duo of Gaskell and Wallace combined once again, with the latter crossing the whitewash for his second try of the afternoon.
Just before halftime, Keighley managed to register a score when Aaron Levy powered his way through close to the line. However, any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished as the Bulls resumed their dominant form in the second half.
Ebon Scurr bulldozed his way over from a short distance, leaving the Keighley defence helpless. Another debutant, Connor Wynne, showcased his talent by capitalising on a James Segeyaro kick to score his maiden try for Bradford.
The home side continued their relentless assault, with Taufua securing his second try of the match following a swift transition from right to left. Patton and Gill then combined brilliantly, resulting in Gill notching his 15th try of the season.
Taufua completed his hat trick in style, courtesy of an accurate pass from Gaskell, providing the winger with an easy finish in the corner. Patton and Gill’s telepathic understanding was on display once again, as Gill expertly juggled the ball to the ground for his own hat trick. Blackmore joined the party, capitalising on a superb break down the right edge to claim his second try of the game.
Despite their struggles, Keighley managed to salvage some consolation when Charlie Graham touched down for a score. However, it was short-lived as Gill secured his third try of the match, capitalising on a loose ball.
In the dying moments of the game, Connor Wynne weaved his way through the Keighley defence to score his second try of the debut match. Bodene Thompson, in his farewell appearance, showcased his precision by converting two tries to round off the Bulls’ commanding victory.
With this outstanding performance, Bradford Bulls have sent a clear message to their rivals in the Betfred Championship. The team’s attacking prowess and clinical finishing will undoubtedly leave their opponents wary in the matches to come.
