The Bulls overcame the sending off of Karl Pratt and withstood a late Wakefield rally in a top-notch blood and thunder match at Odsal yesterday.

The stuttering performances of this year's vintage have attracted the critics in droves but anyone questioning the ticker of Brian Noble's squad need look no further than this hard-fought victory over a more than useful Wildcats outfit.

The Wildcats showed enough to suggest they'll claim the sixth play-off spot but the Bulls proved they'll be in the picture when the gongs are handed out at the business end of the season.

Pratt's ill-conceived and over-the-top defence of 6ft 3in team-mate Leon Pryce - who was locked in a one-on-one scuffle with Wildcats wing Semi Tadulala - earned him a red card and derailed what had been a smoothly-running Bulls train.

Propping trio Stuart Fielden, Joe Vagana and Paul Anderson had dominated the early going and converted tries to Jamie Peacock and Stuart Reardon - who stood up second rower Mark Applegarth and raced through for a brilliant individual score - were just reward.

The Wildcats hit back with a neatly-worked try to Frenchman Olivier Elima but the six-pointer looked to be no more than a blip on what was sure to be another comfortable day at the office for the Bulls.

Then came Pratt's moment of recklessness. Standing up for your team-mates is a must in rugby league but Pratt's actions always risked the ultimate sanction.

Pryce and Tadulala exchanged punches in an off-the-ball scuffle, catching the attention of the touch-judge, who arrived on the scene just in time to see Pratt punch Tadulala.

Pratt's punch sparked an all-in brawl that saw even Bulls skipper Robbie Paul become incensed enough to join in the fighting.

When the players were finally separated, Pratt was dispatched with a straight red, followed by Tadulala and Pryce, who were both sent to the bin for ten minutes.

The 11-man Bulls reacted with their most dominant spell of the game.

Fielden, Peacock and Anderson led the assault and their pressure was rewarded when Deacon sliced through from close range for a try he converted himself.

Tadulala and Pryce then re-entered the fray and Wakefield, now back to their full complement, hit back with a fine try by prop Jamie Field.

Second row David Solomona underlined just why he was Super League's player of the month for June with a delightful ball to the straight-running Field, who slithered over between the posts.

March again added the extras to cut the deficit to six but on the stroke of half-time Ellis went looking for some retribution on Pryce and his hard hit was ruled high.

Ellis and Pryce exchanged words before Deacon drilled the goal from 25 metres to give the Bulls a 20-12 lead at the break.

The Bulls were so clearly fired-up by the fight that Noble - who hinted that a Wakefield player may have put in a stray boot during the brawl - would hardly have needed to make a motivational team talk.

Two tries in six minutes after the break showed the Bulls were in no mood to kiss and make up. Lesley Vainikolo - who had remonstrated with Deacon for not kicking through for him in the first half - latched on to the grubber he had demanded for the first before Reardon sparked the second with one of the runs of the season from the kick-off.

The Bulls full back was dragged down 40-metres out but Paul quickly fed Lee Radford and the loose forward popped a neat ball to the flying Rob Parker, who held off two tacklers to power over from 20 out.

Pratt's dismissal delayed the introduction of man of the moment Iestyn Harris but Noble did finally put him on at centre with 28 minutes remaining.

The Wildcats were guilty of forcing too many passes to exploit their extra man and until the closing minutes all they had to show for some entertaining efforts was a dubious try to Solomona, who had benefited from a Ben Jeffries offload. But with time running out they did finally benefit from some sustained pressure on the Bulls' line.

Ellis crossed first from close range and Rob Spicer went over moments later following a Peacock error to cut the deficit to four.

But the Bulls lifted again and when Harris was tackled high on a first tackle play Deacon stepped up to drill the goal from 38 metres.

The Wildcats threw everything into the closing moments but their desperation handed Shontayne Hape possession on the 20 and he split the defence before sending Vainikolo over for the clincher.