Young Fords win late at Bradford!

The hosts had the first chance of the contest after a penalty was given away by the Tigers around 15 metres out. Both Joseph Burton and Oliver Scott made busts for the line but the Fords’ defence was up to the task.

Just minutes later they were made to pay for that missed opportunity. Bulls were penalised inside their 10 metre line and Cas were clinical as the speedy Jason Qareqare shifted the play out to the left to find Mackenzie Scurr who skidded over in the corner. Callum Hutchinson hooked his conversion wide for the score to stay at 0-4.

Bradford almost got themselves back in the game after Joseph Kellet made a dig for the line from close in but was held up well by the Castleford defence.

The visitors then extended their lead after a fantastic break through the line from Louis Collinson allowed the loose forward to hand the ball to Will Shaw for the #7 to stroll over. Hutchinson made no mistake from the tee this time to give Cas a 10 point advantage.

Straight from the kick after that try, Cas put themselves under pressure as they spilt forward. The away side were punished as Sam Arundel bulldozed his way over. Myles Lawford then converted to cut Cas’ advantage to 4 points.

Bulls came forward again soon after but didn't make the most of it due to a knock on and Cas took full advantage of getting possession back. Jacob Harte produced an incredible solo run through the middle to gain some good yardage and Cain Robb picked up quickly to scoot over to regain some breathing space. Ben Farrar was on kicking duties but was unlucky to see his kick come back off the post.

Bradford wouldn’t back down and with seven minutes of the first half to go, they cut the deficit again. This time it was Joseph Burton who was the man to break the line and touch down. Lawford wasn’t accurate with his kick on this occasion.

The match’s momentum had really swung the Bulls’ way as just before the break they managed to take the lead. An accurate kick wide was competed by Lewis Adams and Farrar in the air but the Bradford man came down with it and grounded. Lawford slotted his kick from out wide to give the hosts a two point lead at the interval.

Cas got off to the perfect start in the second 40. Josh Milthorpe almost reached the line but was stopped short, however, Scurr was there to take the ball and scoot over for his second of the night. Farrar did brilliantly to kick his conversion from out wide to give Cas a four point lead. 

Unfortunately for the Tigers, just minutes later they conceded their advantage. After being forced to drop out the Bulls then punished them as Lawford chased his own chip forward to get the ball down. He then converted his own score.

The hosts kept streaming forward and the Tigers did well to keep them out initially but fell further behind just before the hour mark. Lawford was the star player for Bradford on the night and the #25 made a great run from 20 metres to go over. Lawford was accurate with his kick to stretch his team’s advantage to eight points. 

This young Cas side are known for fighting until the very end and they did just that. After Harte went close it was Sonny Lynch who found a gap to break through and slid over. Farrar kicked the two points to get Castleford within just two. 

In the dying moments the Tigers miraculously clinched the game. A beautiful flowing move out to the left ended up in the hands of Farrar who acrobatically dived over in the corner to win it!

Full-time: Bradford Bulls U19’s 28 - 30 Castleford Tigers U19’s 

Castleford: Qareqare, Scurr, Hutchinson, Milthorpe, Farrar, Copley, Shaw, Hall, Robb, Tooala, Attley, Magee, Collinson 

Interchanges: Lynch, Cook, Harte, Carter 

Tries: Scurr x2, Shaw, Robb, Lynch

Goals: Hutchinson (1/2), Farrar (2/4)