FIRST TEAM MATCH REPORTS

Sat 3rd Sept - Bank Quay Bulls 42 - v- Wigan St Cuthberts 18

Sun 7th Aug - Bank Quay Bulls 22 - v - Leigh Miners Rangers 28

Sun 31st July Bank Quay Bulls 28 - v - Wigan St Judes 20

Sat 24th September Haresfinch 10 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 78

Sat 1st October Orrell St James 4 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 28

Sat 8th October Bank Quay Bulls 26 - V - Pilkingtons 12

Sat 15th October Haydock 36 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 38

Sat 22nd October Tetleys Lancashire County Cup Quarter Final - Rylands 0 - V - Bank Quay 29

Sat 3rd Sept - Bank Quay Bulls 42 - v- Wigan St Cuthberts 18

Bank Quay Bulls made a winning start to life in the Mark Norris Building Services, North West Counties Division with victory over Wigan St Cuthberts.
The Bulls shot into the lead inside the first minute with Paul Cragg and Phil Braddish combining to send Bill Rowen in for an unconverted try. Then from the restart Phil Braddish crossed for the Bulls second try with Dean Braddish's convertion, putting Bank Quay Ten points up inside Three Minutes.
Bank Quay were playing some superb Rugby League football with their outstanding handling, and they went futher ahead when Dean Braddish outpaced the defence over eighty metres for a try which he was unable to convert.
As the Bulls at times began to squander possesion and give away penalties. St Cuthberts came more into the game with Two converted tries, the Second just before the break had the Bulls only Two points ahead at half time.
Bank Quay once again scored in the first minute of the half, with Phil Braddish crossing from close range and Dean Braddish adding the extra points. St Cuthberts hit back with a converted try, but the final quarter saw the Bulls finish by far the stronger side.
A Dean Braddish long ball found Jimmy Astbury in space to score the Bulls next try and although the conversion was missed, a penalty goal soon after from Dean Braddish increased the Bulls lead.
Phil Braddish completed his hat-trick before Paul Cragg went over for another Bulls try. Ryan Fieldhouse slipped his way through the defence for Bank Quay's final try of the afternoon, and two futher Dean Braddish conversions pushed the Bulls passed the Forty point mark.

Best for the Bulls were Paul Cragg, Wes Lawton and Phil Braddish.

Next Saturday the Bulls begin their defence of the Tetleys Lancashire County Cup with an away first round tie at Shaw Rhinos. Kick off 2pm. The second team are in League action at Longshaw St, against Parkside Golborne with a 2.30pm start. Back to top

Sun 7th Aug - Bank Quay Bulls 22 - v - Leigh Miners Rangers 28

Bank Quay Bulls narrowly failed to reach the Champions Challenge Final after a superb semi final against National Conference Grand final winners Leigh Miners.
Bulls made a great start to the game when on their first attack Wes Lawton burrowed his way over for a try, which Dean Braddish converted. Bank Quay stayed on the attack from the re-start and went futher ahead will Paul Craggs inside pass sending in Phil Braddish. Dean Braddish added the extra points to put the Bulls Twelve points ahead.
The home side hit back with a converted try, but the Bulls at this stage were by far the better side and only a dubious touch judges decision prevented Phil Braddish from scoring his second try. Leigh Miners began to dominate possession and scored an unconverted try. Then shortly before took the lead with a converted try.
Bank Quay went close to re-gaining the lead early in the second half with Billy Rowen being unable to hold onto Phil Braddish's pass. The Miners scored a converted try but still the Bulls were creating chances against arguabley the best amateur side at present. Phil Braddish looked to have scored under the sticks but again an intervention from a touch judge ruled out the try.
An interception try to Leigh Miners seemed to have sealed the game for the tournament hosts, but the Bulls took the game to the Miners. Marcus Shaw was held up just short of the line, then Damian Shaw re-gathered his own chip kick but his pass to Paul Cragg went to ground. Dean Braddish was unlucky with another Bulls chance before he stole the ball in a tackle and crossed under the posts for a try, which he also converted.
With the last play of the game the Bulls scored again with Lee Westwood forcing his way over in the corner. Dean Braddish put the touchline convertion just wide, but the Bulls had pushed the Miners all the way in one of the best semi finals seen in the Champions Challenge.
Outstanding for the Bulls in a superb team performance were Ryan Fieldhouse and Phil Braddish.

The Bulls now concentrate on the Mark Norris Building Services North West Counties Premier division season with Wigan St Cuthberts visiting Longshaw St on the 3rd Sept. The second team travel to Saddleworth on the same day. Training is at Longshaw St form 6.30pm on Tues and Thurs and anyone wishing to play local Rugby League at the Towns top club will be made welcome. Back to top

Sun 31st July Bank Quay Bulls 28 - v - Wigan St Judes 20

Bank Quay Bulls progressed to the Champions Challenge semi finals with a come from behind victory over National Conference Premier Division side Wigan St Judes.
The Bulls found themselves trailling by twelve points inside the opening ten minutes as St Judes punished Bank Quay mistakes with two converted tries.
Bank Quay began to get to the pace of the game and got on the scoreboard with a Paul Cragg try which Dean Braddish converted from wide out. The Bulls were starting to put the Wigan side under pressure but when a decision went against them, St Judes took advantage to score an unconverted try.
The Bulls hit back straight from the re-start with Paul Cragg proving unstoppable from close to the line to score his second try with Dean Braddish adding the extra points. Bank Quay were controlling the game but couldnt break down the St Judes defence who increased their lead to six points at the break with a penalty goal.
From the kick off Banq Quay took the game to their opponents and some superb handling ended with Billy Rowen crossing for a try with Dean Braddish adding the convertion to level the scores. The Bulls stayed on the attack and went in front for the first time as Paul Cragg completed his hat-trick.
A St Judes penalty goal cut the Bulls lead to two points, but with their defence containing the St Judes attack Bank Quay made sure of another famous win in the clubs short history when Lee Westwood put in Paul Cragg for his fourth try with Dean Braddish landing his fourth goal.
Bryan Cragg, Jimmy Astbury and Wes Lawton all went close to scoring in the closing minutes as Bank Quay dominated the later stages. In a superb team performance, which pleased the coach John Fieldhouse. Billy Rowen and Paul Cragg stood out for the Bulls.
The Bulls reward for reaching the semi-final stage is a tie this Saturday against hosts and champions Challenge holders Leigh Miners Rangers. The game against the National Conference League Grand final winners kicks off at Twist Lane at 3pm. Back to top

Sat 24th September Haresfinch 10 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 78

TETLEYS LANCASHIRE CUP HOLDERS BANK QUAY BULLS PROGRESSED TO THE THIRD ROUND OF THIS SEASONS COMPETITION WITH A COMPREHENSIVE DEFEAT OF HARESFINCH.
IT TOOK THE BULLS ONLY FOUR MINUTES TO OPEN THE SCORING WHEN SOME SWIFT HANDLING CREATED THE SPACE FOR STE CALEY TO CROSS IN THE CORNER. BANK QUAY SWEPT UPFIELD FROM THE RESTART AND NEIL SMITH WENT OVER FOR HIS FIRST TRY OF THE GAME.
STE CALEY WAS SOON IN FOR HIS SECOND TRY WHICH DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTED AS THE BULLS COMPLETED SET AFTER SET OF TACKLES IN AN ERROR FREE START. BANK QUAY WERE BREAKING AT WILL AND THE TRIES CONTINUED TO BE SCORED. PAUL CRAGG AND RYAN FIELDHOUSE BOTH CROSSED THE TRY LINE WITH DEAN BRADDISH LANDING THE EXTRA POINTS BEFORE A RARE HARESFINCH ATTACK BROUGHT AN UNCONVERTED TRY.
BANK QUAY HAD THE TIE ALL BUT WON AT THE BREAK WITH FURTHER TRIES FROM PHIL BRADDISH AND NEIL SMITH TOGETHER WITH A DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTION PUTTING THE BULLS 36PTS - 4 AHEAD.
TWO PAUL CRAGG TRIES IN AS MANY MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND PERIOD, BOTH CONVERTED BY DEAN BRADDISH, HAD THE BULLS HEADING FOR 50 POINTS. DEAN BRADDISH TOOK BANK QUAY PAST THAT MILESTONE CONVERTING HIS OWN TRY AS THE BULLS RAN RIOT.
THE BIGGEST CHEER OF THE GAME CAME WHEN PAUL CRAGG LOST POSSESSION IN THE ACT OF SCORING WITH NO PLAYER WITHIN TWENTY METERS OF HIM. PHIL BRADDISH WENT OVER FOR HIS SECOND TRY BEFORE PAUL CRAGG MADE AMENDS FOR HIS GAFF WITH A SCORE UNDER THE POSTS. MARCUS SHAW WAS THE NEXT BULLS PLAYER ON THE SCORE SHEET AND A DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTION KEPT THE POINTS ADDING UP.
A CONSOLATION CONVERTED TRY TO HARESFINCH WAS FOLLOWED IN THE CLOSING MINUTES WITH PAUL CRAGGS FIFTH TRY OF THE MATCH AND A DESERVED HAT TRICK FOR NEIL SMITH. DEAN BRADDISH FINISHING THE GAME WITH NINE GOALS AND A PERSONAL TALLY OF TWENTY TWO POINTS.
THE BULLS FACE PILKINGTONS AT HOME IN THE NEXT ROUND ON THE 8TH OCTOBER. BEST FOR THE BANK QUAY BULLS WERE PHIL BRADDISH, STE CALEY AND PAUL CRAGG.
THE BULLS SECOND TEAM GAME WAS CALLED OFF DUE TO NO AVAILABLE REFEREE.
SATURDAY SEES THE BULLS FIRST TEAM TRAVEL TO ORRELL ST JAMES FOR A MARK NORRIS BUILDING SERVICES NORTH WEST COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION GAME WITH THE SECOND TEAM ALSO IN LEAGUE ACTION AT LONGSHAW ST AGAINST ACCRINGTON. BOTH KICK OFF AT 2.30PM Back to top

Sat 1st October Orrell St James 4 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 28

BANK QUAY BULLS CONTINUED THEIR UNBEATEN START TO THE SEASON WITH A TREMENDOUS DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE AGAINST ORRELL ST JAMES.
THE BULLS STARTED THE GAME STRONGLY AGAINST SOME HEAVY ORRELL TACKLING AND TOOK THE LEAD ON SIX MINUTES WHEN PAUL CRAGG PASS SENT BILLY ROWEN IN UNTOUCHED FOR THE TRY. BANK QUAY INCREASED THEIR LEAD SHORTLY AFTER WHEN PHIL BRADDISH ADDED THE CONVERTION.
ORRELL ST JAMES SCORED AN UNCONVERTED TRY THEN ON THE HALF HOUR MARK THE BULLS WERE REDUCED TO TWELVE MEN WITH PAUL CRAGG DISMISSED FROM THE FIELD. BANK QUAY RESPONDED SUPERBLY AND A BREAK FROM DEAN BRADDISH SAW THE SUPPORTING JIMMY ASTBURY SCORE UNDER THE STICKS AND DEAN BRADDISH LANDING THE CONVERTION.
THE BULLS WERE TACKLING EVERYTHING THAT THE ORRELL SIDE THREW AT THEM AND AS THE HALF DREW TO A CLOSE PHIL BRADDISH CROSSED IN THE CORNER FOR HIS SECOND TRY TO PUT BANK QUAY 20PTS - 4 AHEAD AT THE BREAK.
THE SECOND HALF HAD THE BULLS TWELVE MEN DEFENDING AS ONE AND ORRELL COULD FIND NO WAY THROUGH BANK QUAYS DEFENCE. THE BULLS STILL CREATED CHANCES OF THEIR OWN WITH DEAN BRADDISH AND STE CALEY GOING CLOSE.
WITH TEN MINUTES REMAINING THE BULLS GOT THE TRY THAT MADE CERTAIN THEIR HARD WORK IN DEFENCE WAS REWARDED WHEN JIMMY ASTBURY SET UP BILLY ROWEN FOR A TRY IN THE CORNER. THEN TO ROUND OFF AN EXCELLENT SECOND HALF, IN WHICH THE BULLS TWELVE HAD KEPT THEIR OPPONENTS POINTLESS, PHIL BRADDISH FORCED HIS WAY OVER FOR HIS HAT TRICK. DEAN BRADDISH'S TOUCHLINE CONVERTION HIT THE POST BUT THE BULLS HAD THE WIN WITH THEIR TEAM SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE SETTING A MARKER FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

BEST FOR THE BULLS WERE PHIL BRADDISH, DEAN BRADDISH AND ALAN CLARE.

BANK QUAY'S SECOND TEAM CONTINUED THEIR FINE START TO THE SEASON WITH AN EXCELLENT 28PTS - 16 WIN AGAINST ACCRINGTON. TRIES FOR THE BULLS CAME FROM WAYNE SHAW, NEIL WALSH, STAN PHIZACKLEA AND TWO FROM JOHN BARRY. CHRIS ARNOLD WAS ON TARGET WITH FOUR CONVERTIONS. Back to top

Sat 8th October Bank Quay Bulls 26 - V - Pilkingtons 12

BANK QUAY BULLS PROGRESSED TO THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE TETLEYS LANCASHIRE COUNTY CUP WITH A HARD FOUGHT WIN OVER PILKINGTONS.
IN POOR CONDITIONS, WHICH MADE HANDLING DIFFICULT, THE BULLS WERE GUILTY OF FORCING PASSES AND GIFTING POSSESSION TO PILKINGTONS. DEAN BRADDISH PUT BANK QUAY IN FRONT WITH A PENALTY GOAL BUT THEIR OPPONENTS HIT BACK WITH TWO UNCONVERTED TRIES TO LEAD MID WAY THROUGH THE HALF.
THE BULLS WHEN COMPLETING THEIR SETS LOOKED THE MORE COMPETENT SIDE AND AFTER BACK TO BACK SETS HOOKER WEZ LAWTON FORCED HIS WAY OVER FROM CLOSE RANGE TO WHICH DEAN BRADDISH ADDED THE CONVERTION TO LEVEL THE SCORES.
WITH THE LAST MOVE OF THE HALF THE BULLS TOOK THE LEAD WHEN AFTER DAMIAN SHAW HAD KICKED AHEAD BILLY ROWEN CROSSED FOR A TRY WITH DEAN BRADDISH AGAIN CONVERTING.
MISTAKES FROM PILKINGTONS AT THE KICK OFF TO THE SECOND HALF PUT THE BULLS ON THE ATTACK AND BILLY ROWEN SPED ONTO PAUL CRAGGS PASS TO SCORE HIS SECOND TRY. DEAN BRADDISH KICKED THE CONVERTION TO GIVE THE BULLS THE PERFECT START.
ALTHOUGH PILKINGTONS CROSSED FOR AN UNCONVERTED TRY THE BULLS DEFENCE WAS SOLID AND WAS HOLDING THE PILKINGTONS ATTACKS. WITH NINETEEN MINUTES REMAINING A TYPICAL PAUL CRAGG BREAK SAW THE HALF BACK CROSS BENEATH THE POSTS FOR A TRY WHICH DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTED.
THE BULLS TACKLING WAS NEVER GOING TO ALLOW A PILKINGTONS COME BACK AND SO BANK QUAY PROGRESSED TO THE NEXT ROUND, WHICH PRODUCED AN AWAY TIE AT RYLANDS ON THE 22ND OCTOBER FOR THE CUP HOLDERS.
BEST FOR THE BANK QUAY BULLS WERE PAUL CRAGG, WEZ LAWTON AND DAMIAN SHAW.
SATURDAY SEES THE BULLS BACK IN LEAGUE ACTION WITH A MARK NORRIS BUILDING SERVICES NORTH WEST COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION GAME AT HAYDOCK WITH A 2PM KICK OFF.

THE BULLS ARE LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR OPEN AGE SQUAD AND ANY PLAYERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FOR THE TOWNS LEADING LOCAL CLUB WOULD BE MADE WELCOME AT THEIR TRAINING SESSIONS ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 8PM AT VICTORIA PARK Back to top

Sat 15th October Haydock 36 - V - Bank Quay Bulls 38

BANK QUAY BULLS WENT JOINT TOP OF THE MARK NORRIS BUILDING SERVICES NORTH WEST COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION WITH VICTORY AT LAST SEASONS RUNNERS UP HAYDOCK.

THE BULLS HAD THE FIRST CHANCE TO SCORE AFTER COLLECTING A SHORT KICK OFF BUT WHEN THE BULLS SPILLED THE BALL HAYDOCK BROKE FROM THEIR OWN HALF TO RECORD A CONVERTED TRY. BANK QUAY REPLIED IMMEADIATELY WITH PAUL CRAGG SCORING A TRY WHICH DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTED.
PLAY WAS GOING FROM END TO END AND WHEN THE HAYDOCK DEFENCE FAILED TO DEAL WITH A DEAN BRADDISH KICK THE SAME PLAYER WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO REGATHER FOR A TRY AND ALSO ADD THE EXTRA POINTS. HAYDOCK LEVELLED THE SCORES WITH A CONVERTED TRY BEFORE A FINE MOVE FROM THE BULLS ENDED WITH PHIL BRADDISH CRASHING OVER TO SCORE WITH DEAN BRADDISH ON TARGET WITH THE GOAL KICK.
HAYDOCK PUT PRESSURE ON THE BULLS LINE BUT WHEN A PASS WENT TO GROUND DEAN BRADDISH WAS THE FIRST TO REACT AND OUTPACED THE HAYDOCK SIDE ON A NINETY METRE SPRINT FOR THE TRY. AS HALF TIME APPROACHED BOTH TEAMS HAD A PLAYER DISMISSED FROM THE FIELD BUT IT WAS THE BULLS WHO HAD THE LEAD AT THE BREAK.
HAYDOCK SCORED A CONVERTED TRY EARLY IN THE SECOND PERIOD BEFORE RYAN FIELDHOUSE, AFTER A BREAKING SEVERAL TACKLES, KNOCKED ON OVER THE LINE. HE MADE AMENDS SECONDS LATER WHEN HE FINISHED OFF A PAUL CRAGG AND BILLY ROWEN BREAK TO TOUCH DOWN FOR A TRY TO WHICH DEAN BRADDISH CONVERTED.
HAYDOCK LOOKED TO HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE GAME WHEN THEY SCORED THREE CONVERTED TRIES IN A TWELVE MINUTE SPELL MID WAY THROUGH THE HALF. THE BULLS SHOWED REAL TEAM SPIRIT AND A DESIRE TO WIN WITH NEIL SMITH AND DALE CATTERALL LEADING THE FORWARDS, BANK QUAY BEGAN TO FIGHT THEIR WAY BACK.
WITH NINE MINUTES LEFT PAUL CRAGG CROSSED FOR HIS SECOND TRY AND DEAN BRADDISH'S CONVERTION PUT THE BULLS TWO POINTS BEHIND. TIME WAS AGAINST THE BULLS AND WITH JUST NINETY SECONDS ON THE CLOCK THE BALL WAS MOVED ALONG THE LINE FOR DAVE HUGHES TO FINISH OFF WITH A SUPERBLY TAKEN TRY IN THE CORNER. DEAN BRADDISH NARROWLY MISSED THE CONVERTION.
HAYDOCK GAINED POSSESSION FROM THE RESTART BUT THE BULLS DEFENCE SCRAMBLED TO PREVENT THE HOME TEAM FROM SCORING AND KEEP THE BULLS UNBEATEN RUN GOING.
IN A TERRIFIC TEAM PERFORMANCE BEST FOR THE BULLS WERE PAUL CRAGG, RYAN FIELDHOUSE AND ALAN CLARE.

SATURDAY HAS BOTH THE BULLS TEAMS AWAY AT RYLANDS WITH THE FIRST TEAM IN THE QUARTER FINAL OF THE TETLEYS LANCASHIRE COUNTY CUP WITH A 2PM KICK OFF AND THE SECONDS, WHO HAD AN EXCELLENT 18PTS - 12 WIN OVER SIMMS CROSS, IN LEAGUE ACTION AT 2.30PM Back to top

Sat 22nd October Tetleys Lancashire County Cup Quarter Final - Rylands 0 - V - Bank Quay 29

TETLEYS LANCASHIRE CUP HOLDERS BANK QUAY BULLS PROGRESSED TO THE SEMI FINAL STAGE OF THIS SEASONS COMPETITION AFTER A COMPREHENSIVE VICTORY OVER RYLANDS.
IN FRONT OF A LARGE CROWD THE BULLS OPENED THE SCORING AFTER FIVE MINUTES WITH DAVE HUGHES FINISHING WELL IN THE CORNER FOR A TRY TO WHICH DEAN BRADDISH ADDED THE CONVERTION. STE CALEY AND PHIL BRADDISH WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THE RYLANDS DEFENCE BUT THE BULLS FAILED TO CAPITALISE ON THEIR BREAKS.
THE BULLS FINALLY TOOK ONE OF THEIR CHANCES WHEN JOHN BRADDISH DUMMIED THE FULL BACK TO SCORE AN UNCONVERTED TRY. RYLANDS BEGAN TO COME INTO THE GAME MORE WITH THE BALL HANDLING OF ANDY PUCILL CREATING OPENINGS FOR THE RYLANDS ATTACK.
WITH EIGHT MINUTES TO HALF TIME AND THE BULLS BEING HELD ON THE HALF WAY JOHN BRADDISH LANDED A SUPERB DROP GOAL TO PUSH THE BULLS FURTHER AHEAD. RYLANDS MISSED A COUPLE OF SCORING OPPORTUNITIES AS THE FIRST HALF DREW TO A CLOSE WITH THE BULLS 11PTS - 0 AHEAD.
WITHIN MINUTES OF THE RESTART THE BULLS WENT FURTHER AHEAD WITH ALAN CLARE FORCING HIS WAY OVER FROM ACTING HALF FOR A TRY CONVERTED BY DEAN BRADDISH. RYLANDS HAD THEIR BEST SPELL OF THE GAME AND ONLY SOME EXCELLENT BULLS DEFENCE AND SOME DROPPED PASSES PREVENTED THE HOME SIDE FROM SCORING.
THE BULLS FINISHED THE GAME STRONGER AND WRAPPED UP THE WIN WHEN LEE WESTWOOD SENT PAUL CRAGG OVER FROM CLOSE RANGE WITH JOHN BRADDISH ADDING ON THE GOAL POINTS. THEN WITH FIVE MINUTES REMAINING IT WAS STE CALEY WHO SUPPLIED THE PASS FOR PAUL CRAGGS SECOND TRY AND ALLOW JOHN BRADDISH TO COMPLETE THE SCORING WITH THE CONVERTION.

OUTSTANDING FOR THE BANK QUAY BULLS WERE JOHN BRADDISH, PAUL CRAGG AND DEAN BRADDISH WITH RYLANDS BEST BEING ANDY PUCIL, JOHN WALKER AND LEE CALDWELL. Back to top