Sponsored by
Bradford Bulls 42 Catalans Dragons 18: Bulls finishing on a high
BRADFORD'S recent renaissance continued with a third successive victory but an engage Super League play-off berth still looks almost certain to be beyond them.
The resurgent Bulls effectively secured their fourth win in five games by half-time after running in four first-half tries from Sam Burgess, Rikki Sheriffe, Chris Nero and Steve Menzies.
Catalans led when Sebastien Raguin touched down but they capitulated after Burgess came off the bench to cross the line.
Sheriffe, Nero and Menzies added further scores before the break and the Dragons' pitiful resistance allowed Wayne Godwin, Paul Sykes, Paul Deacon and Glenn Morrison to go over in the second half. The result takes Bradford to 21 points but they must beat Salford and Hull in their two remaining games and hope other results go their way if they are to secure an unlikely top-eight finish.
Catalans led when Cyril Stacul broke the Bradford line and raced 60 metres before his progress was halted by Dave Halley. Yet the Frenchmen quickly recycled the ball where Dimitri Pelo sent Raguin in.
Gregory Mounis added the conversion from a difficult angle but the Bulls conjured a spirited response and drew level.
Burgess came off the bench to embark on a typically marauding run and he showed intelligence to find Jamie Langley before taking his team-mate's reverse pass to score.
Deacon added the first of his five conversions and the pendulum began to swing heavily in Bradford's favour. They forged ahead when Burgess again showcased his awesome quality to burst through midfield before Langley found Michael Platt and he sent Sheriffe in at the right corner.
Deacon failed to convert but three minutes later he created his side's third score with a teasing kick which Nero pounced on in the left corner.
Bradford's dominance continued and they claimed a fourth score when Halley seized on a mistake in the Catalans backline and ushered Menzies over the line from close range.
Deacon converted to give his side a 20-6 lead at the break and that lead was stretched further when Godwin showed impressive strength to burrow his way over the line.
Deacon added the extras and Sykes's delightful footwork saw him weave through a stunned Catalans defence for a try. Deacon's trusted right foot gave Bradford the extra two points and the scrum-half then took advantage of Catalans' pitiful resistance by going over himself with a try he subsequently converted.
Catalans hit back when Cyrille Gossard caught Bradford napping and Mounis landed his second conversion but Bradford had their eighth try soon after when Morrison charged through. Sebastien Martins replied for Catalans and Mounis landed his third conversion but that did little to mask Bradford's dominance.
Bradford: Halley, Sheriffe, Platt, Nero, Tadulala, Sykes, Deacon, Lynch, Godwin, Scruton, Langley, Morrison, Menzies. Substitutes: Donaldson, Worrincy, Burgess, Kopczak.
Catalans Dragons: Pelo, Duport, Gossard, Raguin, Stacul, Mogg, Bird, Ryles, McGuire, Guisset, Mounis, Elima, Ferriol. Substitutes: Touxagas, Bentley, Martins, Casty.
Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
