Errors prove costly for Bradford as Cup run comes to end

There was a brief flicker of hope that they might win yesterday’s Tetley’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Warrington Wolves but it was only ever so fleeting.

Instead, while their victors prepare to face Leeds Rhinos for a place at Wembley, they will head to fellow strugglers Salford Red Devils this Sunday, a crucial encounter for both in their bid to avoid relegation to the Championship.

A particularly bad 10-minute spell midway through the first half yesterday essentially saw Bradford – who should hear the result from their appeal against a six-point deduction this week – ejected from this competition.

Warrington had warned of their threat earlier but, unusually, showed real profligacy to waste four opportunities through a combination of poor handling and dogged home defence.

But they soon found their rhythm for Richie Myler to step through from close range in the 15th minute and, though Bradford responded through Elliott Kear in their first genuine attack, coach Francis Cummins had to watch on in despair as Adam Sidlow and Lee Gaskell somehow managed to let Chris Bridge’s restart bounce dead.

It was the sort of basic error that would go on to ruin any hope of progressing.

From there, Ryan Atkins sliced through Luke Gale’s tackle far too easily to get in against his former club and then Sidlow endured more misery, the replacement prop coughing up possession coming out of his own 20m before compounding his mistake by missing Matty Russell as the Scotland full-back weaved over between the posts for Warrington’s third.

Bridge, who continued his recent renaissance with a another classy show from stand-off, converted all of them and, though Bradford initially steadied, they offered little attacking threat.

They were gifted a way back in early in the second period when Bridge’s pass – for once – hit the ground and Luke George raced 80m for Gale to convert and see them trail just 18-10.

But, after a dubious call against Bradford – there was a couple from referee Phil Bentham – Gene Ormsby crossed to restore order in the 52nd minute and the in-form visitors turned the screw.

When Myler was tackled off the ball by Gale, it was the England scrum-half who dived over from dummy-half soon after exposing some more lax line defence.

Joel Monaghan added another try in the next set when Bridge – who finished with seven goals – darted late down the blindside and the Australian centre soon got his second, though Stefan Ratchford’s pass was clearly forward. Ben Currie then rounded things off as Warrington stayed on course for their fourth cup success in just six years

Bradford Bulls: Gaskell; Kear, Blythe, Purtell, George; Addy, Gale; Manuokafoa, Diskin, Walker, Pitts, Olbison, Donaldson. Substitutes: Sidlow, O’Brien, Fakir, Henry.

Warrington Wolves: Russell; R Evans, J Monaghan, Atkins, Ormsby; Bridge, Myler; Hill, M Monaghan, England, Harrison, Currie, Ratchford. Substitutes: Grix, Higham, Asotasi, B Evans.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).

Challenge Cup semi-final draw: Widnes Vikings v Castleford Tigers, Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves, weekend August 9/10.