Bradford Bulls 13 Featherstone Rovers 21: Walton turns tables on his former club to deny Bulls a place in Challenge Cup fifth round

Three-times Challenge Cup winners Featherstone Rovers booked their place in Tuesday's fifth-round draw by beating fellow Championship club Bradford Bulls 21-13 at Odsal on Sunday.
Jason Walton, scored a try against his former club at a crucial time in the game.Jason Walton, scored a try against his former club at a crucial time in the game.
Jason Walton, scored a try against his former club at a crucial time in the game.

With the sides locked at 7-7, Rovers centre Jason Walton scored a crucial 68th minute try against his former club.

Rovers had the best first-half chances and should have been further ahead than 6-0 at the break.

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The only first-half points came in the fifth minute when Bradford’s Jonny Campbell dropped the ball and Josh Hardcastle pounced for a touchdown that Kyle Briggs goaled.

Featherstone went close again in the 20th minute when Frankie Mariano made a superb break but Andy Bostock lost the ball close to the line.

Rovers hooker Sam Day was held up over the line seven minutes before half-time.

Day was denied again six minutes into the second-half when the referee ruled he had dropped the ball over the line.

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Bradford then levelled the scores when Evan Hodgson crossede on his debut and Joe Keyes converted.

Rovers regained the lead when Briggs kicked a 55th minute drop goal but Keyes made it 7-7 when he landed a one-pointer nine minutes later.

Walton’s try then put Featherstone back in front and Briggs defied the swliring wind and rain to add the conversion.

Briggs was on target again with a 45-yard penalty goal four minutes later to stretch the lead to 17-7.

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Ian Hardman finished a break by Mariano to put the game beyond Bradford’s reach, with Briggs adding the extras.

Campbell grabbed a late consolation try for Bradford and Keyes converted.

Bradford Bulls: Campbell; Macani, Mendeika, Oakes, Ryan; Pryce, Keyes; Magrin, Lumb, Peltier, Wilkinson, Bentley, Halafihi. Subs: Moore, Kirk, Butterworth, Hodgson.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman; Turner, Walton, Ulugia, Duckworth; Briggs, Wildie; Cooper, Davies, Bostock, Mariano, Hardcastle, Lockwood. Subs: Griffin, Day, Tagg, Moore.

Referee: Callum Straw.