Platt leads the way as Bulls cruise to victory

The Bulls followed up their 12-4 Good Friday derby defeat of Leeds Rhinos at Odsal with another impressive display at the Stobart Stadium despite the club’s off-field financial crisis.

Centre Michael Platt grabbed two tries for the Bulls, while Adrian Purtell, Ben Jeffries, Manase Manuokafoa, Keith Lulia and Craig Kopczak also crossed in a convincing win for Mick Potter’s side.

Bradford lost Karl Pryce and Phil Joseph during the win over Leeds to add to their growing injury problems which sees 12 first-team squad members sidelined but did welcome back Kopczak on the bench after missing the previous five games with a broken finger.

Bradford coach Mick Potter said: “The part the players play in this adversity is that they need to play their best and they are certainly living up to that and trying their hardest and I can’t ask any more of them at the moment.

“I thought early on we were good and although it got a little scrappy at the end of the first half it was a pleasing performance.

“The fans were very vocal today and with a pleasing performance in front of them they had plenty to cheer about.

“Widnes showed some signs that they can do good things but overall our defence was good and they couldn’t get as far forward as they would have wanted to as we held them in the middle pretty well.”

Widnes: Owens, Flynn, Dean, Isa, Ah Van, Craven, Hanbury, Cross, Clarke, J. Kite, Winterstein, Finnigan, Cahill. Substitutes: White, Moore, Davies, Allen.

Bradford: Kearney, Platt, Purtell, Lulia, Ainscough, Jeffries, Sammut, Hargreaves, Diskin, Manuokafoa, Elima, Whitehead, Langley. Substitutes: L’Estrange, Kopczak, Addy, Olbison.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).