Featherstone Rovers 4 Bradford Bulls 40: Gaskell denied Bulls hat-trick in crushing defeat of Featherstone

Lee Gaskell and Chris Ulugia both bagged two tries and Ryan Shaw landed six goals from seven kicks as the Bulls coasted to their first away victory.

The Bulls were better in all departments than Rovers, who were playing their first home fixture on their extended pitch at new-look Big Fellas Stadium in front of a crowd of 6,346.

Bulls coach Jimmy Lowes said: “The lads got stuck in and our strong defence was the most pleasing aspect of the game.”

Rovers dominated possession for the first 20 minutes but were unable to make it count in the difficult conditions and they fell behind in the 18th minute when Jake Mullaney sent in Gaskell.

Shortly after Tongan prop Epalahame Lauki was brought on for his Bulls debut, they shot further ahead when Gaskell’s pass put in Adrian Purtell.

The Bulls got a third try shortly before half-time when Gaskell and Purtell made the opening for Ulugia’s first score to make it 18-0.

After the break, Dale Ferguson’s clever off-load put in Adam O’Brien before Jean-Philippe Baile crossed from Shaw’s pass. Featherstone’s only reply came in the 50th minute when James Lockwood went over but they finished well beaten.

Rovers substitute Andy Bostock was sin-binned for a high tackle on O’Brien and the Bulls quickly made the most of the extra man when Gaskell grabbed a clever 60-yard individual try.

Ulugia scored his second as the Bulls ran out easy winners, with a forward pass denying Gaskell his hat-trick two minutes from time.

Rovers coach Andy Hay said: “In our previous two games this season I thought we got away with a little bit of stuff we didn’t get away with today and that’s a big lesson for us to learn.”

Featherstone Rovers: Hitchcox; Sharp, Chappell, Minns, Blackmore; Sykes, Irwin; Baldwinson, Ellis, Wood, Tonks, Foster, Bussey. Substitutes: Marginet, Bostock, Lockwood, James.

Bradford Bulls: Shaw; Ulugia, Purtell, Baile, Uaisele; Gaskell, Mullaney; Clough, O’Brien, Sidlow, Walshaw, Pitts, Mellor. Substitutes: Lauaki, Tahraoui, Ferguson, Olbison.

Referee: M Thomason (RFL).