Reds add to Bulls misery

Bradford slumped to an eighth successive league defeat as Salford claimed a 30-26 triumph that barely reflected their superiority.

The City Reds were 12-0 ahead inside the first five minutes and had extended the lead to 20 points before tries in as many minutes from Stuart Reardon, Elliott Whitehead and Vinny Finegan set up a tense finale.

Jodie Broughton scored the first of two personal tries after just three minutes, picking the ball up in the in-goal area before eveading numerous tacklers to touch down at the other end.

Karl Fitzpatrick gave them good field position with a 40-20 and although Stuart Littler was held up just short on the third tackle, a clinical ball from Ashley Gibson sent Ste Tyrer over for the second.

But Bradford enjoyed a good passage of possession before Steve Menzies inevitably touched down after Danny Addy's grubber kick on 12 minutes, and Heath L'Estrange went close to following up.

However, he lost the ball in the process of attempting to touch down and Reds took advantage, Daniel Holdsworth's clever cross-field kick expertly pouched by eventual try scorer Gibson.

Holdsworth tagged on the extras for a third time to make it 18-6 but another Bulls response came in 34th minute, L'Estrange and Michael Worrincy both involved in sending Finigan, who showed a terrific turn of pace to sear past a couple of defenders, in for a debut try, converted by Addy.

Salford increased their lead seven minutes into the second half, a good break from Jeremy Smith, whose one-handed pick-up from dummy-half enabled him to slice through and send the supporting Fitzpatrick under the sticks.

Broughton came up with another sensational score in the 54th minute to silence the home crowd, collecting the ball deep in his own half before scorching past the Bulls cover and leaving Finigan for dead in a straight foot race for the line.

Holdsworth converted both before the hosts claimed their first points of the second period in the 68th minute. The Bulls opted to work the short side and Reardon took Brett Kearney's ball over the top in his stride before squeezing over in the corner.

Whitehead finished a flowing move involving Craig Kopczak, Chris Nero and Andy Lynch, and then Kearney offloaded for Finigan to claim his second of the afternoon as the Bulls fought back.

Addy goaled both to make it a four-point ball game, but the visitors hung on for their third away win of the season.