Super League: Bradford Bulls 12-38 Leigh Leopards – Josh Charnley breaks try record

Betfred Super League

Bradford (0) 12

Try: Atkin, Akins Aim: Dean 2

Leh (14) 38

Try: Charnley 3, Sr., Hodgson, Brogan Aim: Cooking 7

Josh Charnley broke the Super League’s all-time try-scoring record to help Leigh Leopards to victory at Bradford Bulls.

Charnley Odsall’s hat-trick took him to 272 tries, one clear of Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall.

The 34-year-old has now scored 16 tries this season, behind only Rhinos’ Micah Sivo.

Innes Senior, Bailey Hodgson and Louis Brogan also crossed to complete a comprehensive victory as Charnley set up Leopards for a sixth win in seven games.

Despite the win, Leigh finished seventh, but they moved within two points of St Helens, who clinched the final play-off spot.

Bradford had only tries from Chris Atkin and Caleb Eakins to show for a disappointing afternoon as the defeat left them 10th on the halfway point in the promotion.

The respective fixtures between these sides next year will be staged in Las Vegas Feb. 27 at Allegiant Stadium, home of NFL franchise Las Vegas Raiders, in the first matchup between the sides of Pennine to be held stateside.

But it was highlighted by the vintage finishing of Charnley, whose debut as a teenager in 2010 has netted tries for Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and now Leigh.

A penalty goal from Adam Cook set the scoreboard in motion but the Australian stand-off then produced an inch-perfect kick that bounced perfectly past Charnley and into one of Hall’s records.

Bradford had plenty of territory but they never had anyone as clinical as Charnley and he showed why with his second try.

Charnley received a pass on the right touchline, stepped inside two defenders and dived before a third leveled the mark.

The Bulls grabbed the first points of the second half as scrum-half Atkin broke the line and then parried Charnley’s attempt to slide over.

However, the Leopards winger had the last laugh as Cook’s pass gave him the chance to complete his hat-trick for Super League try number 272.

A brilliant burst through the defense from full-back Akins got the Bulls’ second try but easy scores from Hodgson and Brogan added gloss to the margin of victory.

The only negative aspect was Charnley’s 15 minutes to go with Ling expected the evergreen winger to be able to add to his tally of records.

Bradford: Akins; Armitage, Chamberlain, Blake, Ryan; Dean, Atkin; Sutton, Akers, Dorough, Fulton, Russell, Mellor.

exchange: Gardiner, Scarr, Steinwede, Hooley.

Lt Armstrong; Seniors, Hodgson, Hughes, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Offhengau, Epape, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wienke, Liu.

exchange: Brogan, Penny, O’Brien, Horne.

Referee: Jack Smith.