Bulls charge down Tigers

Bradford finally registered their first points of the engage Super League season with a convincing victory over Bradford on Friday night.

Following defeats to Huddersfield and St Helens in their first two games, the Bulls players had plenty to prove to coach Steve McNamara on their return to the Grattan Stadium.

And they made their point early on by running in four tries before the break with Nick Scruton, Rikki Sheriffe, Elliott Whitehead and Brett Kearney all crossing.

They scored seven times in all with Kearney adding a second try after the break with Dave Halley and Paul Sykes also scoring, while Matt Orford kicked six conversions and a drop goal.

Bulls were in front as early as the fourth minute, Scruton running into a smart reverse pass from Orford, bursting through two tackles and spinning out of another to touch down.

The second came soon enough, Steve Menzies claiming Orford's high kick before offloading for Sheriffe to score.

Tigers, without the influential Brent Sherwin, replied midway through the first period when Michael Shenton beat Sheriffe to Rangi Chase's kick through.

However, another spell of pressure from the hosts resulted in Heath L'Estrange sending Whitehead over with a bullet pass, before Kearney got the first of two tries before half-time, sprinting from halfway to score after Paul Sykes sent him clear.

Cas had struggled to create many openings but Bradford's weakness in defence showed again when Craig Huby found Richard Owen in the clear with a pinpoint kick to the corner, and although Orford added a one-pointer the visitors were still in touch at 25-12.

Bradford almost added to their lead as they broke from deep soon after the restart but Sheriffe was pushed into touch as he strained for the line.

The Tigers suffered a blow when the highly-rated Owen was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly under a tackle from Glenn Hall.

The Bulls put the game beyond doubt as they got the scoreboard moving again after a lull with Halley's try just before the hour.

Sykes first found Sheriffe with a grubber out wide and the winger just managed to stretch and kick infield from the touchline.

The ball bobbled into the in-goal area and Halley pounced before Kearney finished off a slick handling move for his second try by the posts.

Castleford rallied with late tries for Steve Snitch and Chase but they proved no more than consolation scores.

Sykes rounded off an impressive night for the Bulls when he found his way over in the closing moments. Orford's first missed goal in seven attempts proved the only blemish on the former Manly star's night.