Bulls put up another battling performance against one of the favourites in the Championship before losing 30-22 at home to Featherstone.

Here is chief sports writer Simon Parker's review of the game and player ratings.

Man of the match

Sam Hallas was like a machine in the middle for the Bulls while Brandon Pickersgill also impressed again.

Moment of the match

Thomas Doyle made an immediate impact from the interchange with the opening score to get the Bulls going.

Moan of the match

Hall’s try looked to be a knock-on but Featherstone proved more clinical when they got close to the Bulls line.

Tactics

No surprises that John Kear stuck with the exact same 17 who had given London Broncos a real run for their money on round one.

Game guide

Half-time: 6-12

Referee: Matt Rossleigh (London)

Bulls – Tries: 4 – Doyle, Lilley, Pickersgill, Dawson-Jones; Goals 3 – Milnes 3/4.

Featherstone – Tries: 5 – McLelland, Harrison, Bussey, Hall, Blackmore; Goals: 5 – Hall 5/5.

Penalties: Bulls 8, Featherstone 10

Goal-line drop-outs: Bulls 2, Featherstone 1

Attendance: 3,640

PLAYER RATINGS

BULLS: Pickersgill 8; Johnson 6, Brown 6, Oakes 6, Dawson-Jones 7; Milnes 7, Lilley 7; England 7, Hallas 8, Crossley 7, Rooks 7, Gallagher 7, Kirk 6. Interchange: Nzoungou 6, Scurr 7, Hodgson 6, Doyle 7.

FEATHERSTONE: Hall 9; Blackmore 6, Worthington 6, Hardcastle 7, Carey 7; Jouffret 6, McLelland 7; Susino 6, Bussey 6, Holroyd 7, Harrison 7, Ferres 7, Lockwood 7. Interchange: Parata 7, Cooper 6, O’Connor 6, Albert 6.