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York Knights came close to sealing a miraculous comeback but fell short in a 36-28 defeat to Bradford Bulls at the Bartercard Odsal Stadium.
After Max Lehmann's early opener for Bradford, York replied through two quick scores from Brad Ward and Connor Bailey before the midpoint of the first half.
The Bulls scored thrice prior half-time thanks to a Kieran Gill double and a Jayden Myers effort to lead 18-10 at the break, with that advantage extended to 30-10 as John Davies and Eribe Doro crossed the whitewash.
York showed tremendous heart though to cut the gap down to just two points with five minutes as Sam Cook notched a brace and Jimmy Keinhorst went over.
But the hosts ensured the two points when Zac Fulton snatched a late try at the death.
Bradford made a dream start, scoring inside the first five minutes. After Jordan Lilley launched a bomb to the left edge, the Bulls kept a second phase play alive to send the ball down the right where San Francisco-born winger Lehmann chased his own kick to dot down in the corner.
The Knights response was immediate however, scoring twice in the space of three minutes to move in front.
A cut-out ball from stand-in full-back Nikau Williams found Jimmy Keinhorst who put Ward over in the left corner.
And from a seemingly routine drive at the line, Bailey somehow drove through Bradfordâs tryline defence to send the Knights in front, with Jack Potter converting and scoring his first points for the Club in the process. He finished with four goals from five efforts.
Bradford quickly got their noses ahead again thanks to a couple of quick-fire scores themselves.
Tyran Ottâs grubber to the right was patted back inside by Lehmann for Myers to touch down and opposite centre Gill then got on the scoresheet when grounding a short kick by Lilley.
The assister added the conversion, his first of 4 goals from 5 attempts.
Trailing 14-10, York lost Williams to the sin-bin for a high shot on Myers, with Bradford almost immediately capitalising on their man advantage as Gill completed his double out of dummy-half.
Four minutes after the restart, Bradford found the gameâs decisive first try after half-time. Keven Appo charged onto a short ball from Mitch Souter at dummy-half before the interchange offloaded for Davies to finish.
The Bulls stretched their lead out to 20 points when Doro charged onto an acting-half pass from Souter at close range on the hour, but Cookâs five-minutes double saw that gap reduced to just eight.
Ronan Michaelâs break up the middle was finished by the support makeshift half-back before James Cunninghamâs inside pass sent Cook over to the right of the sticks.
York got within two points of Bradford when Keinhorst leaped over in the left corner after Williams broke clear as the Knights gave themselves hope of a miraculous comeback.
But Bradford wrapped up the two points when Lilleyâs mazy break got the Bulls before Fulton got over a play later.
Bradford: Holmes, Lehmann, Myers, Gill, Tindall, Ott, Lilley, Bayliss, Souter, Doro, Fulton, Davies, Hallas
Subs (all used): Appo, Peposhi, Pele, Makin
18th Player: Mason
Tries: Lehmann (5â), Myers (21â), Gill (25â, 35â), Davies (44â), Doro (60â), Fulton (78â)
Goals: Lilley (4/7)
York: Williams, Ward, Keinhorst, Field, Brown, Potter, Cook, Thompson, Jubb, Santi, Bailey, Gannon, Cunningham
Subs (all used): Fitzsimmons, Teanby, Michael, Daley
18th Player: Reynolds
Tries: Ward (12â), Bailey (15â), Cook (65â, 70â), Keinhorst (74â)
Goals: Potter (4/5)
Sin-bin: Williams (33â)
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