Salford City Reds 0 Bradford Bulls 7: Bulls edge out Salford in dreadful spectacle

The Australian forward's 24th-minute touchdown proved enough for a second successive Bulls victory but the manner of their performance was again unimpressive.

Salford showed plenty of determination but lacked the quality to break through and Bradford made sure of victory at The Willows with a late Matt Orford penalty and Paul Sykes drop goal.

The Reds were barely able to get out of their own half in the opening 40 minutes and it was remarkable they came through it only 4-0 down.

Twice Bulls winger Rikki Sheriffe went close to scoring early on but, hindered by a hamstring injury, he was unable to touch down precise kicks from influential half-backs Orford and Brett Kearney.

Another Orford kick put pressure on the opposite wing but Ashley Gibson did well to defuse the danger.

Salford finally pieced together a threatening attack but a Dan Holdsworth knock-on allowed Bradford to break. The only try came moments later as Kearney burst through the line and Sykes sent Menzies over, but Orford missed a straightforward conversion.

Sheriffe was unable to go for the second period for Bulls, meaning Dave Halley moved into his position out wide with Sykes taking over at full-back.

A penalty gave Salford a chance to attack the Bulls line but Luke Swain was held just short and Mark Henry then fumbled. The visitors at least put themselves a converted score ahead when they were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute and Orford accepted the two points on offer.

Bradford added the extra insurance of a Sykes drop goal with two minutes remaining.

Salford: Fitzpatrick, Broughton, Henry, Talau, Gibson, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Boyle, Alker, Parker, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain. Substitutes: J. Smith, Littler, Leuluai, Sidlow.

Bradford: Halley, Sheriffe, Sykes, Nero, Reardon, Kearney, Orford, Scruton, L'Estrange, Lynch, Whitehead, Langley, Menzies. Substitutes: Hall, Godwin, Kopczak, Donaldson.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).