Think we've got a few of those in the academy. I know there's nervousness whether we can keep hold of these stars and inevitably one or two will sign for bigger clubs. But Bastian and Diskin have created a superb culture in the academy where players want to sign for us. I believe we signed all the ones we wanted to from our scholarship and signed a few hot prospects from elsewhere.

Diskin really seems like a coach the young lads respect and want to give their all for. Replacing him will be just as crucial a decision as replacing Lowes was IMHO

Totally agree. Diskin will be hard to replace - as you say the academy has been playing well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Leigh Beattie promoted.

Nice to see West Bowling youngsters coming through and getting a chance. Jacob is a really exciting prospect

I shall be having a pint with his dad tomorrow

Boooooooooo!!

Only joking pal, good to see local lads finally having a path into the first team

Yes it's about time that a young un turned up like that lad from Rhodesway school, I remember him being quite decent!

Not a bad find was he.

25 mins gone and the Bulls are leading 14-0.

Danny Addy and Josh Barlow sent to the sin bin. Scrappy game.

Bulls running away with it now. Bradford leading 38-0.

Bulls hit 50. Gaskell in for another score.

Bradford 50 Swinton 8

Caro grabs a late try as Bradford score on the hooter. Final score 54-8 to the Bulls.

Let the Rohan Smith era begin!

Cheers for the updates - did the two U19 guys play?

Good News.
Added bonus that Fev beat London.

A decent performance this afternoon.

There are still some issues for Smith to work on before we get to the middle-8's mind you.

However, London losing has opened up the race for second place again

Happy with that performance. Thought our defence (apart from a 5 minute lapse where they scored two back to back tries) was spot on. Seemed to take pride in our goal line defence. Attack we looked better, though still plenty to work on. Think Clare has nailed down the full back spot.

Certainly looked better than what we have the last few weeks. Think we are severely lacking in last tackle options but hopefully Smith should sort this. Onto Sheffield.

Much better today. Clare man of match by a mile for me, and Oscar looked much more comfortable and confident. Thought our props dominated. How did that crazy man Barlow stay on the pitch? Unfortunately Williams did it again, coming in from his wing and giving away a try to his opposite number. Looking forward to Sheffield next week.

Suspect this might be more to do with the idiot Blythe playing inside him. I think we need to be looking at signing another centre if we can. Blythe is absolutely useless, Purtell is coming to the end of his career (hopefully) and our academy players might not be ready just yet.

Blythe offers very little and the odd thing is we do have better options so not sure how he's in. Uncalled for "hopefully" re Purtell, though. He's been a rock for us, is a class act, and while his best form is some way off, there's no reason why he can't finish the second half of the season well. But if he doesn't, hoping his career will soon be over isn't good. It nearly was, a couple of years back, and he's not only miraculously come back, but sweated blood in the Bulls cause and been one of our standout players for me. Hence them making him captain.


Very cunning of Olbison to pinch the MoM by nicking the no. 10 shirt, though.

Happy with that

Dominated from the start, and aside from a 10 minute spell where we got slack and let Swinton grab two tries, we were completely on top throughout.

Bizarrely I found myself more disappointed that we didn't nil them, than by the fact we scored over 50 points!

Agree about Blythe - bombed the two scoring opportunities he had and was really soft in defence. I can't see why he is getting a game, surely Ethan Ryan is a better prospect until Purtell comes back?

James Clare has surely nailed down the full back slot now - he was my MoM

Well said. Whilst Purtell has some weaknesses in his game, overall he brings plenty more positives to the team when fit.

Agree with that. Clare was superb throughout. Swinton were really niggly and I'm glad we managed to play some rugby in spite of their obvious spoiling tactics. Pride in goaline defence was much better today. Still plenty to work on, Thomas made his touchline conversation look ridiculously easy btw, didn't know he had that in his locker.

Watched him do two touchline conversions in the warm up. Nailed both of them.

Agree re Blythe, whoever is winger is outside of him is in for a quiet afternoon attaching and a busy busy defensive test, shoots out of the line looking for a big hit misses 9/10 then leave winger to mop up or forced to come inside.

Surely we have better options Ryan and etc Spring to mind without Purtell.

Thomas didn't do much wrong IMO apart from np the short pass to Blythe I think it was who had no hope of gathering it before he was hit.

Ref was fair also not seen him before but he di alright, didn't miss much apart from the addy punch up but he was following the play and it was the touch judge how saw it but he wasn't sure himself, thought only addy was going into bin for a while.

So how did my mate Warren Turley go?