Millom 24 Bradford Dudley Hill 12

MILLOM continued their Challenge Cup journey as they held off a spirited Dudley Hill side in an ill-tempered affair which produced a sending-off and three sin-binnings, writes Elliot Burrow.

The Woollybacks started as they meant to go on with a try in the third minute. Barrow Raiders Academy player Tyler Lancaster broke the line and drew the full-back and offloaded for Tom Newbegin who raced away to the try-line. Adam Kelly converted for 6-0.

The home side – who welcomed back Ross Brookes, Noah Robinson and player-coach Tom Sibley - continued to press and on 18 minutes Adam Kelly had a chance to extend the lead with a penalty kick, but his effort flew wide.

They had another chance four minutes later after Dudley Hill's Anthony Lawton was sin-binned when he sparked a 26-man coming together. And this proved costly for Bradford as moments later Ethan Kelly bulldozed his way over from a Sibley pass to score. Adam Kelly converted for 12-0.

The visitors continued to test the patience of the referee and on 28 minutes Ryan Dickinson saw red for after he appeared to throw a punch at Joseph Wright who was still on the floor after the tackle.

With the return of Lawton, the visitors turned the screw and started to force Millom into mistakes as they looked to get on the scoresheet and back into the match.

However, they were dealt a blow on the half-time whistle when Millom scored against the run of play. Another superb drive from Tyler Lancaster saw him offload to Connor Mitchell who just managed to outpace their full-back and cross in the right-hand corner for a 16-0 half-time advantage.

Bradford started the second-half where they left off and continued to press and eventually got their reward on 47 minutes.

Neil Hall crossed off a smart kick through by Simon Sewell. Sewell converted and at 16-6 it appeared to be game-on.

Millom edged further ahead when Adam Kelly added a penalty, but the Tykes came back strongly, and on 65 minutes Sebastian Russo benefitted from a quick play the ball to take advantage of some tired markers to scoot over. Sewell converted and the defeict was just six points at 18-12.

From here the match turned into a scrappy affair. Dudley Hill had Martin Southwell sent to the bin for ungentlemanly behaviour. This allowed Millom to take advantage and Adam Kelly added another penalty goal to extend the lead to 20 -12.

Moments later Kyle Bateman also joined Southwell in the bin after he was sent from the field for dissent. And Millom sealed a place in the third round when Lancaster crossed for a try of his own, right on the final whistle.

Millom's man of the match award went to Ethan Kelly who impressed with a try and a full 80-minute display, while the away team's man of the match was Aiden Batey.