Bradford Bulls 22 Warrington Wolves 26 - Bulls left reeling as Wolves cling on for victory

Warrington were left clinging on by just four points at the end, but the Bulls were unable to snatch a late try to clinch their place in Wednesday's semi-final draw.

"The players are pretty distraught," said Bulls coach Steve McNamara. "There are some tears in there, they invested so much in that game.

"In many ways it was a classic cup-tie. We couldn't at any stage get our noses in front and, if we had have done, the result might have been different. The team have put a lot into this week and into the game. There were some people out there who had no right to be on the field."

The Bulls had scrum-half Matt Orford back after a three-match injury absence but McNamara was forced to give a debut to 18-year-old Joe Wardle in the absence of Brett Kearney, Stuart Reardon, Jason Crookes and Jamie Langley.

His injury woes were compounded when 18-year-old James Donaldson tore a cruciate knee ligament to rule him out for the rest of the season.

The famous Odsal arena was bathed in sunshine for the final quarter-final of the weekend, but the Bulls got off to the worst possible start.

Matt Orford's attempted kick was charged down on halfway, and as Warrington charged forward Lee Briers pounced for a try, following some slick passing, converted by Chris Bridge.

Andy Lynch was held up just before the line as Bulls came straight back, then Rikki Sheriffe raced away down the flank but the hosts spurned a glorious chance as James Donaldson was wrapped up in the tackle.

If Bradford needed an example on how to finish, Briers was again instrumental at the opposite end, his neat passing slipping in Ryan Atkins for a second Warrington try. Bridge converted to put the visitors 12-0 ahead inside 20 minutes.

Bradford needed a swift reply and Sheriffe was on hand to crash over, although it took the video referee several replays to determine that Steve Menzies hadn't got a hand to and knocked on Dave Halley's pass.

Paul Sykes saw his conversion attempt drift wide, but the Bulls didn't have to wait too long for their next score.

A terrific break from Heath L'Estrange saw him breach the Wolves line, and he picked out Halley in support as the Bradford full-back scampered over for a try.

Sykes's conversion cut the deficit to 12-10, but some terrible defending by Michael Worrincy gifted Warrington their third try.

The Bradford substitute seemed caught in two minds and allowed Vinny Anderson to race away from his own half to score a Bridge-converted try.

This now had the feel of a heavyweight boxing contest, both sides ignoring defence to see who could deliver the next blow.

And it was the home side who had the final punch before the half-time hooter. A terrific kick from Sykes gave the Bulls possession close to Warrington's line and Nero powered over, Sykes adding the conversion to leave the hosts trailing 18-16.

A superb pass from Richie Mathers picked out Chris Hicks for the opening try of the second half, but Bridge missed with the conversion attempt.

Orford was held up over the line as Bradford piled on the pressure, knowing a converted score would level the scores.

Perhaps given the openness of the first 40 minutes, both coaches had ordered the two teams to tighten up and the third quarter was a much tighter affair.

So it needed a moment of genius from Michael Monaghan, the man-of-the-match when Warrington beat Huddersfield Giants at Wembley last August, to break the deadlock.

The hooker's deft kick to the corner saw Hicks ground the ball for a try, the video referee judging it legal.

Bridge missed the conversion but Bradford needed two tries now and it was the veteran Menzies who hauled the Bulls back into it, using all his experience to stretch over the line. Sykes's conversion made it 26-22 with 14 minutes remaining.

Sheriffe streaked down the line but failed to find the supporting Menzies, Donaldson was stretchered off after going over on his ankle following some terrific running rugby from Bradford, while Michael Platt was denied in the corner.

"I'm pleased with the outcome but we made hard work of it," said Wolves coach Smith. "All credit to our opponents, who wouldn't lie down and die, but we also kept finding ways of keeping them in the game.

"We are frustrated with ourselves because we know we can do better. We know we are going to have to improve no matter who we draw in the semi-final if we are going to get back to Wembley. There was some really strong defence on our own line and the players should be proud of themselves but there were also some lapses in the middle of the field."

Bradford Bulls: Halley, Sheriffe, Menzies, Nero, Platt, Sykes, Orford, Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch, Whitehead, Hall, Donaldson. Substitutes: Wardle, Worrincy, Godwin, Kopczak.

Warrington Wolves: Mathers, Hicks, King, Atkins, Riley, Briers, Bridge, Morley, Monaghan, Harrison, Solomona, Westwood, Grix. Substitutes: Higham, Cooper, Mitchell, V. Anderson.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury).