18 Jan 2025
MATCH REPORT - BRADFORD BULLS

It was defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium for a youthful Giants side, who handed debuts to as many as nine players, with seven of those from the academy ranks.
It was defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium for a youthful Giants side, who handed debuts to as many as nine players, with seven of those from the academy ranks.
The visitors took the lead after 12 minutes. A kick to the corner from Meadows sent Okunbor and Swift into an aerial battle, in which the Bulls winger climbed highest. He landed and dotted down.
It was two tries and 10 points to the good for the Bradford 12 minutes later. Keyes’ kick high couldn’t be claimed by Giants’ number 20 Wallis, and ricocheted back into Bulls hands. Souter received a pass and went in to the left of the posts unchallenged.
It got worse for the Giants shortly before the interval. Okunbor with a break down the Bulls right edge and Blake on his inside. They executed a two-on-one at the expense of Aiden McGowan and extended the lead.
Two minutes before the end of the first 40, Harry Rushton was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. From the resulting play, Sutcliffe intercepted and handed it off to Swift who ran the length of the field to open the Giants’ account for the afternoon!
The score at the break, 16-4 in favour of neighbours Bradford.
It was a rough start to the second half for the Giants, who were still down to 12 men as Pele barged over but McGowan expertly got underneath to stop the Bulls prop from grounding.
The Giants were back in the game on the 55 minute mark! A brilliant go it alone run from close range for Olly Wilson, backing himself to beat Bayley Liu and winning to barge through and shorten the gap.
15 minutes from time, Bradford had another. Liu barged through and managed to ground from close range. It took Bradford just three minutes to register another score. Gill received the final pass of a right to left shift, and added four more to the visitors’ tally.
A special moment for young winger Beau Morrison with five minutes to play! The ball shifted left and he had a choice to make and Okunbor in his way. Morrison backed himself and grounded in the corner! A very special moment for him and his family.
Final Score: Huddersfield Giants 14-28 Bradford Bulls
Teams:
Huddersfield Giants: McGowan, Swift, Sutcliffe (Debut), Jake Bibby, Halsall, Flanagan, Ward (Debut), Burgess (Debut), Golding, Wilson, Billington, Hewitt, Rushton
Subs: English, Carr, Morrison (Debut), Wallis, Jack Bibby, Merta (Debut), Lumb (Debut), Blacker (Debut), Land (Debut), Algar (Debut)
Bradford Bulls: Holmes, Okunbor, Blake, Gill, Taufua, Meadows, Keyes, Lawrence, Souter, Scurr, Fulton, Gee, Donaldson
Subs: Lilley, Bayliss, Mason, Pele, Hallas, Ott, Michael, Waine, Peposhi, Liu, Ackroyd, Hunt
Scores:
Huddersfield Giants:
Tries: Swift, Wilson, Morrison
Goals: Sutcliffe 1 from 2, Flanagan 0 from 1
Bradford Bulls:
Tries: Okunbor, Souter, Blake, Liu, Gill
Goals: Keyes 1 from 2, Lilley 3 from 3