Another Super League versus Championship Challenge Cup tie pitted the Bradford Bulls against near neighbours Castleford Tigers in a third-round match-up which saw Danny McGuires visitors as favourites to overcome Brian Noble’s charges.
It was a heavily experienced Bulls side, and one which the BBC had selected to broadcast indicating that they believed that it was the most likely to be a giant-killing, the pitch at Odsal being a leveller for what promised to be a tremendous cup tie.
A place in the fourth round awaited, with both sides and coaches were eager to progress, the Bradford crowd swelled by a decent contingent from Castleford.
It took just five minutes for the home side to take the lead, James Donaldson ducking under a tackle and taking a defender to the line with him to ground. Joe Keys couldn’t add the extra two from ten metres in from the touchline.
Constant Bulls pressure was rewarded on sixteen with Matty Gee grounding a Joe Keys weighted grubber, one-handed before the ball bounced dead in goal. Jimmy Meadows added the conversion, Bradford fully justified in a 10-0 lead.
A twenty-third minute Meadows penalty goal extended the lead to two converted tries, Castleford looking ill-equipped to respond.
Joe Keys kept the scoreboard rolling on thirty-three with a close range drop goal to extend the lead to thirteen points and increase the pressure on the McGuire half-time team talk.
A minute from the half-time hooter, the Bulls struck a hammer blow with a breakaway try turning defence into attack. Tom Holmes picked up a poor grubber kick from Asi a couple of metres from his own line and sprinted the length of the field to score. Meadows was unable to add the touchline conversion, the home side with a fantastic 17-0 half time lead.
On fifty-five the Tigers grabbed a lifeline, a Daejarn Asi kick being chased and grounded by Jeremiah Simbikin by the right upright to give Tex Hoy a simple conversion for 6-17.
Two minutes later the Tigers were in again, a wayward pass was hacked forward by Simm who picked it up off the bounce and sprinted eighty metres to score. With the Hoy conversion, the Tigers were back within five points of the Bulls and in the ascendancy having ridden their luck.
On sixty-one Muizz Mustapha scrambled close to the Bulls line but was hauled down a metre short.
The Bulls made the lead a full six points again on seventy-five thanks to a Jordan Lilley drop goal from ten metres out. The Bulls with an 18-12 lead to secure the home side’s position.
The game was back in the balance with ninety seconds remaining, Tex Hoy busting the Bulls line from twenty metres out after throwing an outrageous dummy. He tried to improve the angle, getting a knock for his pains. The conversion would likely have meant golden point but he was wide of the far post with the kick, the Bulls leaping for joy at the sound of the final hooter.
The result was a shock, and not a shock at the same time. The old master Brian Noble was victorious over the fledgeling coach Danny McGuire as a Championship side defeated a Super League side, albeit on of the favourites to end the 2025 season on bottom spot. All credit to the home side for a tremendous win, ground out in poor conditions, and their progress through to the fourth round.
Bradford Bulls: Holmes (T), Okunbor, Blake, Gill, Taufua, Meadows (G 2/3), Keys (G 0/1, DG), Lawrence, Souter, Scurr, Gee (T), Fulton, Donaldson (T). Subs: Lilley (DG), Bayliss-Brow, Michael, Pele. 18th Man: Hallas.
Castleford Tigers: Rooney, Simm (T), Wood, Cini, Senior, Asi, Hoy (T, G 2/3), Lawler, Horne, Griffin, Hodson, Simbiken (T), Westerman. Subs: Rimbu, Mustapha, Namo, Watts. 18th Man: .
Half-Time: 17-0.
Full-Time: 18-16.
Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 10-0, 12-0, 13-0, 17-0 : HT: 17-4, 17-6, 17-10, 17-12, 18-12, 18-16 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Bradford.
Referee: Liam Moore.
