Veteran coach John Kear says his young Bradford team created some special memories as he added to his own Challenge Cup folklore with a gripping 24-22 sixth-round defeat of Leeds.
Kear, who famously guided Sheffield Eagles and Hull to Cup final glory, brought the Bulls out of League 1 last season and they are now two wins away from an unlikely trip to Wembley after compounding the misery of the Rhinos in the first West Yorkshire derby for five years.
"I'm delighted with the squad's efforts," Kear said. "They were magnificent.
"They have created memories. When they meet in 20 years time they will shake hands and say 'remember that Leeds game?' You're in sport for outcomes and days like today.
THEEEYYVE DONE IT!!!!!! OH MY WORD!!!!!!! WHAT A DAY FOR THIS CLUB AND YOU MAGNIFICENT SUPPORTERS!!!!! WE'VE BEATEN THE AULD ENEMY AND ARE IN THE QUARTER FINALS!!!!!!#TOGETHERBRADFORD pic.twitter.com/6bXYtiMYD2 — Bradford Bulls (@OfficialBullsRL) May 11, 2019
"I am chuffed for the fans who have had thin and thinner times. We've had some good cup wins but obviously today is a very, very special one.
"It's a big day for everyone involved and a very, very big one for this club. It sends the signal we are building, we are coming back and Super League is the end goal.
"This competition means so much to me from a kid and it means even more now."
Dalton Grant, Jake Webster, Sam Hallas and Mikey Wood scored Bradford's tries and teenage half-back Rowan Milnes kicked four goals in front of a crowd of 10,258, the biggest at this stage of the competition for seven years.
''It just shows what a magic competition the Coral Challenge Cup is!'' John Kear is absolutely buzzing after his @OfficialBullsRL put in an incredible @TheChallengeCup performance this afternoon against arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos! pic.twitter.com/kgXCaYUBgn — Coral (@Coral) May 11, 2019
The result marked a new low for Leeds, who sacked coach Dave Furner at the start of the week after winning just four of their opening 14 Super League games.
Kear added: "Losing a coach can galvanise or upset people but we didn't know what to expect.
"We felt they were fragile mentally and thought the longer it was closer, the more anxious they would become and that's how it panned out."
Half-back Callum McLelland, chosen ahead of the experienced Richie Myler, scored two tries for the Rhinos, who had a chance to level the scores just before the end when Tom Briscoe went over for their third try.
Liam Sutcliffe's conversion attempt from the touchline rebounded off a post and Leeds interim coach Richard Agar, who was Kear's right hand man when Hull beat Leeds in Cardiff in 2005, admitted his side got their just desserts.
A dreadful day for the Rhinos as they lose out to Bradford at Odsal in @TheChallengeCup, congratulations to the @OfficialBullsRL on their victory FULL TIME Bradford 24 – 22 Leeds pic.twitter.com/xb2iYsXx8Z — Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) May 11, 2019
"We probably got what we deserved," Agar said. "If we'd got a draw at the end it would probably have been a bit unjust.
"There was a lack of discipline to start with, a terrible lack of discipline in terms of penalties, looking after the ball and working within the systems put in place.
"We looked legless, we couldn't win anywhere near enough tackles. It's been symptomatic of the season so far and we took it to a whole new level.
"There was no lack of respect and we knew where Bradford could be strong but it's no good just talking about it. You have to go out and show the desire to want to do it. From a moral standpoint that's as bad as it gets."
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