Bradford Bulls 36 Salford City Reds 24: Bulls’ naivety does not prove costly as they sink Salford

The Bulls, who snatched a commendable last-minute draw at champions and arch-rivals Leeds on Thursday, only outscored the City Reds six tries to four but largely outplayed a visiting side that began 2013 with similar financial traumas to those which took Bradford to the brink last season.

Salford, who picked up their first win in five games with an unexpected 21-20 defeat of former league leaders Huddersfield on Good Friday, trailed 24-6 at the break and briefly threatened a comeback but were ultimately unable to stop a Bulls team claiming their fifth win of the campaign.

The game was only given the go-ahead after a massive snow-clearing operation and a 10am pitch inspection by RFL match commissioner Ian McGregor.

Bradford started with intent and it was no surprise when John Bateman dived onto a Jarrod Sammut grubber to give them the lead after eight minutes.

Jamie Foster converted and Salford struggled to make it out of their own half until an error in judgment from Bulls full-back Brett Kearney helped them back into the game when Lee Gaskell pounced to score.

Mark Sneyd, who went on to land four goals, levelled the score with a conversion from out wide.

The Bulls were back in front within three minutes, Keith Lulia and Foster combining well down the left to send Sammut over.

Bulls continued to dominate with only repeated handling errors preventing them extending their lead, until Adrian Purtell crossed just before the break.

Then a surging break from prop Adam Sidlow, a Salford player until his winter move across the Pennines, was taken on by the supporting Kearney to claim his 10th try of the season.

Foster, who limped off early in the second half, kicked magnificently on the heavy surface to land all four conversions and help the Bulls to their 18-point lead at the break.

Salford began encouragingly after the restart, twice forcing repeat sets, and were rewarded when Jack Murphy scored in the corner.

Former Bull Chris Nero then charged over from close range and Sneyd’s third conversion left the Greater Manchester side within a converted try of their hosts.

But Jamie Langley used all his strength and determination to grab a 55th-minute try and settle Bradford’s nerves with Sammut adding the conversion in the absence of Foster.

Still the home side had to weather a further Salford score when Fages sent Andrew Dixon charging between the posts.

It took a 71st-minute Sammut penalty and a late Sammut try to finally clinch the points.

“You have to earn the right to play and we were perhaps a little bit naive at times,” said Cummins afterwards.

“But they have worked really hard and I can’t be disappointed.”

Bradford Bulls: Kearney, Kear, Purtell, Lulia, Foster, Addy, Sammut, Langley, L’Estrange, Manuokafoa, Bateman, Whitehead, Donaldson. Substitutes: Scruton, Olbison, O’Brien, Sidlow.

Salford City Reds: Sneyd, Murphy, Okanga-Ajwang, Gaskell, Broughton, Fages, Foran, Griffin, Godwin, Neal, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild. Substitutes: Jewitt, A. Walne, Owen, Nero.

Referee: T Roby (RFL).