Bulls secure play-off berth

Bradford snuffed out Hull KR's hopes of pinching a play-off place in the engage Super League as they fought back from a dreadful start to win 42-18 at Odsal.

The Bulls found themselves 18-0 down after 20 minutes, but hit back to score eight tries without reply to take the two points and clinch a place in the top six.

There was to be no farewell try for Joe Vagana, the retiring prop forward playing his last home game for the club after a wonderful career covering almost 250 appearances for the Bulls.

For a while it appeared Vagana's swansong would end in bitter disappointment, as Rovers took full advantage of their hosts' sluggish start.

Bradford had a fourth minute James Evans try ruled out by the video referee for offside against Peter Fox, before Justin Morgan's side took control of the game.

Interception

Kris Welham intercepted Ben Jeffries' telegraphed pass out wide before running 60 metres to score the opening try, which Michael Dobson easily converted.

Dobson's kicking was scarcely put to the test again four minutes later when Michael Vella touched down to the right of the posts.

And when Vella was sent in by Ben Galea for his second try in seven minutes and seventh of the season, Dobson converted once more to put the visitors into a commanding lead.

Rovers' third try stemmed from a forward pass by Paul Sykes, but it was the experienced centre who roused Bradford from their slumber with a dash for the corner for their first try in the 25th minute.

Paul Deacon's conversion made the score 18-6 and the Bulls cut the deficit to eight points at the interval after Evans sent in Dave Halley at the corner, with Deacon's kick carried wide by the gusting winds as the clock passed 40 minutes.

Steve McNamara's half-time teamtalk produced immediate results, as David Solomona threw a dummy before easing over for a soft try two minutes after the restart.

Deacon converted to cut the arrears to two points and six minutes later Bradford hit the front for the first time, Semi Tadulala just getting the ball down at the second attempt. Deacon missed his kick from the touchline.

Just two minutes later Bradford crossed for their fifth try, as Matt Cook kicked the ball down the line and won the chase to score in the corner.

Deacon added the extras and five minutes later he was in the thick of the action again, kicking cross-field for Chris Nero to beat two defenders in the air and score a sixth try - again converted by Deacon.

Shaun Briscoe's fine tackle denied Tadulala as he dashed for the corner again, before Rovers enjoyed a rare sortie deep into Bradford territory.

Jake Webster thought he had taken advantage of a fortunate bounce to score a potentially crucial try, but the video ref ruled the ball had slipped from his grasp as he attempted to ground it.

Moments later Terry Newton fed the ball to Evans, who skipped through to become the Bulls' seventh scorer, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Newton in the final minute.

Deacon stepped aside to allow Vagana the chance to score the final points of his Odsal career, but his conversion was off target.