Narrow defeat for Scholars

Castleford Tigers’ young Scholars were edged out by just two points by Bradford Bulls at The Jungle on Wednesday night.

The Fords got off to the perfect start after the visitors spilt the ball from kick-off. Cas shaped left to prop forward Rhys Firth who ducked down and bulldozed over from close in to open the scoring. Corey-Jay Sharpe converted to make it 6-0.

Unfortunately, Cas couldn’t keep hold of their advantage for long as eight minutes in Bradford levelled the game. The wet conditions were making it tricky to play with the ball in hand and the Bulls pounced on a Tigers knock-on as Tyde King scooted over. Thomas Bell slotted the kick.

The hosts were back ahead ten minutes later as they managed to keep the ball under control as they switch the play left to Connor Dale who crossed on the left. Sharpe couldn’t add the two points on this occasion.

With eight minutes to go until the interval, Cas extended their lead. Sharpe place a low kick in behind which bounced up kindly off a Bulls player back to the scrum-half for him to stretch out and score. The #6 then made no mistake from in front of the sticks for the half-time scores to read 16-6.

The away side began the second half strongly and their efforts were rewarded nine minutes in. A smart kick from Bell found Jacob Robinson on the left edge for the centre to pick up and dot down.

Just over an hour in Bradford levelled the scores again. Another testing kick, this time to the air, was placed to the left and it was Isaac Lee who rose highest to catch and place the ball down. Bell added the extras.

The Tigers responded brilliantly with just over 10 minutes remaining as a beautifully timed pass to Dale on the left-hand side released the centre to sprint home. Sharpe sliced the conversion wide for the scoreboard to read 20-16.

Cas were defending admirably as the clock ticked ever closer to full-time, however, the Bulls managed to clinch the victory late on. A short pass found the run of Samuel Spencer 10 metres from the line and the #3 put his foot down to slide over between the sticks. Baker had the simple task of knocking over the conversion for Bradford to take home a 22-20 win. 

Full-time: Castleford Tigers Scholarship 20–22 Bradford Bulls Scholarship

Castleford: T. Sharpe, Lindsey, Coughlan, Dale, Pallister, Wall, C-J. Sharpe, Blackburn, Longstaff, Firth, Salmon, O’Marr, Grice

Interchanges: Beedle, Bullock, Jackson-Bedford, Meillam, Nestor, Dawson

Tries: Firth, Dale x2, Sharpe

Goals: Sharpe (2/4)

Bradford: Jepson, Lee, Spencer, Robinson, Singh, Butler, Bell, Leake, Welsh, Marshall, Wright, McKinley, King

Interchanges: Bostock, James, Jackson, Twomey, Baker, O’Connor, Boylan, Wright

Tries: King, Robinson, Lee, Spencer

Goals: Bell (3/4)

*Photography by Alex Shenton