Halley shines at Stoop
Dave Halley scored a hat-trick as Bradford gained quick revenge against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.
Last Updated: 08/08/09 5:10pm
Dave Halley scored a hat-trick as Bradford gained quick revenge against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.
The Bulls lost at home to the Londoners just six days ago but bounced back in style to dent the Quins' play-off ambitions.
In sapping temperatures, Bradford began the brighter and a succession of missed tackles by the home side saw the Bulls run in for two early tries.
Firstly Chris Nero shrugged off the challenge of Danny Orr to send Halley in unopposed, and seconds later Paul Deacon broke the defensive line for full-back Halley to go over again.
The hosts responded when Luke Dorn ran a fine line to allow captain Rob Purdham to drive over, but it proved a brief respite.
The Bulls were enjoying all of the luck, and that was in evidence midway through the half when Deacon's kick through deflected off Orr into the grateful hands of Halley who strolled over for his hat-trick try.
Another was to follow for the visitors as winger Semi Tadulala's crossfield kick missed the onrushing attackers, only for front rower Sam Burgess to pick up the loose ball and power over.
The Bulls were to add two further first-half scores, Steve Menzies touching down after a Tadulala break and Michael Worrincy reacting first and driving over after Deacon's penalty attempt came back off the post.
With the heat unrelenting, the second half saw a noticeable drop in the tempo, with the hosts' efforts to drag themselves back into the game undone by basic errors and poor decision-making.
It was midway through the half before the visitors added to their lead, Wayne Godwin going over from close range.
Quins skipper Purdham and Will Sharp did cross for tries late on, but by then the game was settled as a meaningful contest.
