Bradford Bulls 24

By Andrew Hunt

PAT Walker landed an injury-time penalty to earn Dewsbury Rams a deserved draw in an entertaining pre-season friendly against Super League Bradford Bulls at Tetley’s Stadium last Friday.

Dewsbury looked impressive on attack, with new scrum-half Dominic Brambani orchestrating their best moves and linking well with half-back partner Walker, while Mike Emmett also shone at hooker.

As the Rams were put under pressure in the second half their defence looked solid. However, when Elliot Whitehead produced a storming 80-yard break to score a 73rd minute try it looked to have snatched victory for the Bulls.

Dewsbury showed real fighting spirit and hit back in style when Alex Bretherton dived in at the right corner. Walker had the chance to level matters but his touchline conversion attempt went agonisingly wide.

It appeared the Rams would be denied a draw but deep into injury time, Bradford were penalised for interference at the play-the-ball and Walker slotted over the goal with the last kick of the game.

Dewsbury made a terrific start, scoring two tries in the first 12 minutes. Walker’s long ball was palmed into touch and when Dewsbury attacked from the scrum, Walker sent winger Scott Turner racing in at the left corner. Walker added a fine touchline goal.

Bradford struggled to get into the game as poor handling and dropped passes gifted possession to the Rams. From one knock-on Dewsbury capitalised as former Cleckheaton rugby union player Brambani sent a long pass out to Andy Bostock. He quickly offloaded to Bretherton, who raced in at the corner to put the Rams 10-0 up.

Bradford hit back with a quality move as full-back Kieran Hyde put Whitehead through a gap and his reverse pass sent hooker Wayne Goodwin between the posts. Paul Sykes converted.

Dewsbury restored their 10-point advantage when Bretherton gathered a kick over the top and his pass to Powell was knocked down by a Bulls defender.

Powell won the race to the loose ball and collected to score out wide with Walker tagging on another fine goal from out wide.

Bradford responded with a spell of pressure but the Rams defence looked to be holding out. The Bulls new Australian recruit Glen Hall stormed for the try line but looked to have been held up by Emmett.

As Hall got up to play the ball, referee Craig Halloran awarded him the try and James Donaldson added the extras.

Walker landed a penalty late in the first half to stretch Dewsbury’s lead to 18-12.

The opening exchanges of the second half were scrappy before the introduction of former Dewsbury Moor junior George Burgess livened things up.

Burgess clattered Adam Robinson seconds after coming off the bench and the Rams prop was forced to leave the field looking very groggy.

Soon after strapping 17-year-old Burgess scattered several Rams defenders in a terrific drive to set up a Bulls attack which resulted in Craig Kopczak scoring.