Bulls vs Eagles Preview

06/03/2020

Sheffield Eagles will be looking to add to their first win of the Championship season when they travel to the Tetley’s Stadium to face Bradford Bulls on Sunday.

The Eagles saw off Batley Bulldogs in the first ever golden point extra-time in a regular Betfred Championship fixture, with Izaac Farrell kicking the winning drop-goal from 25 metres out.

Batley opened the scoring through a Shaun Lunt penalty try before Ryan Millar hit back for Sheffield. Farrell couldn’t convert from out-wide, leaving the Eagles 6-4 down at the break.

Mark Aston’s side were reduced to 12 men before the interval as Joel Farrell was sin-binned for dissent.

Sheffield responded brilliantly after the restart courtesy of an Aaron Brown brace. Farrell converted both scores for a 6-16 lead.

Alistair Leak registered a converted Batley score before half-back Farrell extended the visitors’ advantage to six points with a penalty.

With 10 minutes remaining the hosts levelled matters. Bulldogs captain James Brown crashed over and Dale Morton converted from in-front to send the contest to extra-time.

Farrell nailed the one-pointer in the second period of extra time after Lunt’s drop-goal attempt in the first half was wide.

John Kear’s Bradford Bulls also enjoyed their first Championship triumph of the season last weekend, as they beat Oldham at Bower Fold.

The Bulls enjoyed a fruitful first forty minutes in Stalybridge as they ran in 24 unanswered points. Tries came courtesy of Sam Hallas, Steve Crossley, Brandon Pickersgill and Joe Cator. The latter showed up impressively in his first Bulls outing on dual-registration from Hull FC.

The West Yorkshire outfit couldn’t add any more tries in the second half but talented stand-off Rowan Milnes did add a penalty, following Danny Bridge’s first try of the afternoon for the Roughyeds.

Bridge completed his brace in the final quarter, his effort converted by Dan Abram, but it proved no more than a consolation. .

One to Watch - Rowan Milnes

Our One to Watch in the Bulls ranks this Sunday is young half-back Rowan Milnes.

Milnes has impressed in Bulls colours since making his debut in 2018. Super League club Hull KR snapped the playmaker up ahead of the 2020 season but was loaned back to Bradford.

He has been an ever-present this season and kicked five goals from as many attempts against Oldham last time out.