Atkins shines in Bulls' first away win of the season

Here are our key takeaways from Friday night’s 30-14 victory at Huddersfield Giants, which moved the Bulls three places up the table ahead of the rest of the weekend games MAN OF THE MATCH Chris Atkin kicked seven goals from seven attempts to keep the Giants at arm’s length, with three of his attempts being from the touchline. He also controlled the ruck in tandem with Jayden Nikorima. Atkin has had question marks over him from some Bulls fans after signing from Castleford, but this was his best game in a Bulls shirt MOMENT OF THE MATCH Waqa Blake’s first try. Apart from the fact that it virtually sealed the Bulls’ first away win of the season, it had the Giants guessing as the centre held the ball high in his right hand before going himself on the outside, showing pace and power MOAN OF THE MATCH The second half lasted 61 minutes and had 18 penalties and 14 set restarts, but no yellow card was handed out. Ironically, the only sin-binning came late in the first half for Zac Fulton for persistent team offences. Neither coach was happy with referee Matty Flynn afterwards, with Giants coach Jim Lenihan being particularly critical TACTICS Dan Russell, Zac Fulton, Riley Dean, and Loghan Lewis all returned for the Bulls, with Mitch Souter, Luke Hooley, Eliot Peposhi and Leon Ruan missing out. Both Dean and Lewis started on the bench, with Dean filling in at centre in the second half - a position he has played in before when at Oldham. Kurt Haggerty was glad to report no injury concerns after the game, unlike Jim Lenihan, who is set to miss Oliver Russell (ankle ligaments) for the rest of the season GIANTS: Evalds 6, Swift 8, Gagai 6, Wrench 6, Milne 6, Lolohea 5, O Russell 6, Rogers 7, Woolford 6, Powell 7, Dunford 6, Hewitt 6, Rushton 6,. Intechanges: English 6, Greenwood 6, Geyer 7, Cozza 6. 18th man: King N/A BULLS: Aekins 7, Wynne 7, Armitage 6, Blake 8, Ryan 7, Nikorima 7, Atkin9, Sutton 8, Ackers 8, Doro 8, D Russell 7, Fulton 7, Mellor 8. Interchanges: Ormondroyd 8, Dean 7, Scurr 8, Lewis 7. 18th man: Hooley N/A