Bradford Bulls 28 Warrington Wolves 40: Brave young Bulls defy odds to push Wolves to the wire

Despite losing a fifth successive game, the Bulls received a standing ovation from the Odsal crowd following Saturday evening's exploits.

The difference between them and England's failed footballers the previous night, though, was they produced a performance full of spirit, adventure, hope and determination while ultimately losing out. Deliver those traits and most supporters will be happy regardless of the result.

Depleted Bradford, with possibly the youngest and least experienced bench in Super League history, should never have had an opportunity of getting near Warrington, who, conversely, have now won five on the bounce to stay tucked in behind Super League leaders Wigan.

Three of those players waiting to enter the fray – Academy products Steve Crossley, Danny Addy and Tom Olbison – had just seven substitute appearances between them while Cain Southernwood started at scrum-half on his senior debut, having only turned 18 last month.

But Steve McNamara's brave side ignored the odds to twice claw back 10-point deficits to draw level in a hugely entertaining contest.

After another period of intense pressure, with influential stand-off Paul Sykes and Australian hooker Heath L'Estrange constantly probing, they seemed intent on doing the same again until Mickey Higham, with the second of his scrambled tries from dummy half, finally ended their pursuit in the 72nd minute.

It was a measure of Bradford's inspired performance, though, that, against an affluent Warrington side bolstered by returning England trio Adrian Morley, Chris Bridge and Ben Westwood and affording the luxury of fellow internationals Higham, Garreth Carvell and former Bull David Solomona on their own bench, McNamara felt it was two points lost.

After the debacle of defeat in Wrexham six days earlier, the Odsal chief demanded increased intensity but received much more with his players adding no little invention and skill to all the vigour.

The skinny Southernwood – son of former Castleford hooker Graham – became the fourth Academy player to receive a Bulls debut in the last five weeks but showed remarkable maturity, his distribution proving consistently crisp and accurate while also offering some fine attacking kicks.

Considering all the youthfulness in Bradford's squad, it came as a surprise that the one player who struggled was the most experienced in Super League.

The 37-year-old Steve Menzies, acting captain in the absence of injured Andy Lynch, Jamie Langley and Matt Orford, was at fault for both Warrington's opening tries as they established a 10-0 lead and dithered as Chris Riley put the erratic Wolves ahead for a third time in the 57th minute.

Menzies argued he had been blocked by dummy runner Ryan Atkins in the build-up to Riley's 10th-minute effort. He was, and the video referee produced the wrong call, but the veteran second-row, recommissioned at centre, remained positioned to deal with the scorer and was too easily brushed aside.

The revered Australian could also only manage a weak nudge at Matt King when his former Kangaroos team-mate finished a slick move to dive over in the corner three minutes later.

Riley bombed another opportunity after embarrassingly failing to take hold of Chris Hicks's inviting kick and Bradford made the most of the let-off.

After Southerenwood's well-judged grubber forced a drop-out, the on-rushing Sykes squeezed an off-load out of a three-man attempted tackle for L'Estrange to dart over.

Sykes converted and when Elliott Whitehead dived for the line soon after, he also somehow smuggled the ball away for Chris Nero to profit and level at 10-10.

Solomona's first touch saw him create some magic which ended with Briers scoring before Higham burrowed over from dummy half for a soft try two minutes before the break, Briers's conversion sending them in 22-10.

Menzies replied two minutes into the second period after L'Estrange's clever kick bounced wickedly and eluded Riley. Dave Halley then finished off a fine move initiated by prop Craig Kopczak's slick midfield pass for the omnipresent Sykes to burst through.

Sykes's steepling kicks into the sun continually caused problems for Warrington, who were far from their best, but their opponents were afforded an easy way back when Briers's hopeful kick infield saw Menzies hesitate and Riley pounced.

When Ryan Atkins supported Simon Grix's break straight after, Briers's kick put them 34-22 ahead but Hicks spilled Sykes's re-start and courageous Bradford immediately struck.

Sykes found Menzies on an angled run inside before the ex-Manly star redeemed himself again with a perfect flat pass for Brett Kearney to streak through from 10 metres, the elusive full-back earning reward for a number of piercing raids.

However, another weak close-range score from Higham finished them off but the Bulls fans were left in good heart. If the club can keep hold of their current budding youngsters – Warrington's England centres Atkins and Bridge both started at Odsal before developing elsewhere – their future is bright.

Bradford: Kearney; Sheriffe, Menzies, Nero, Halley; Sykes, Southernwood; Scruton, L'Estrange, Hall, Whitehead, Worrincy, Godwin. Substitutes: Olbison, Addy, Crossley, Kopczak.

Warrington: Riley; Hicks, Bridge, Atkins, King; Briers, Grix; Morley, Monaghan, Wood, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Substitutes: Solomona, Cooper, Carvell, Higham.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).