Bradford Bulls 72, Doncaster 6

NEWS of this 14-try massacre will have reverberated all the way to The Hive in London.

In utterly destroying Doncaster at a sun-kissed Odsal, the Bulls sent out a resounding message about their promotion pedigree.

Significantly, victory drew Bradford level with rivals Leigh at the Championship summit after Paul Rowley's side lost 29-20 at London.

That result ended the Centurions' 27-match winning streak and marked their first defeat since last July.

Bradford's victory means they have now amassed the same amount of points as Leigh, who remain top only by virtue of a superior points difference of five.

Rowley's men have to come to Odsal on July 19 in the penultimate match of the regular season. It should be some scrap.

That stormy opening-day encounter at the Leigh Sports Village, which prompted an RFL investigation, remains fresh in the memories in the players, coaches, supporters and directors of both clubs.

The rematch is likely to decide who finishes top of the table and promises to be tougher than yesterday's visit of rock-bottom Doncaster, who slipped to their 16th straight Championship defeat.

Admission was free to women to support Women's Aid and that helped to ensure a healthy crowd of 4,982.

The Bulls ran in four tries during the first half and another ten after the break, with Steve Crossley marking his second home debut with a brace and James Mendeika also crossing twice on his Odsal bow.

But in-form winger Danny Williams, who again combined superbly with Adrian Purtell, took centre stage with his four-try haul.

The only negatives were the loss of Alex Mellor to a knee injury and the withdrawal of both Ryan Shaw and Lee Gaskell with knocks.

The Bulls were always in control and should really have rammed home their superiority during a first half which saw them establish an 18-6 lead.

Too often, they tried to overplay when a simple offload might have led to a clear try-scoring opportunity.

Bradford almost led in the opening minute when Danny Addy's neat pass sent the supporting Shaw galloping clear.

Former Wakefield winger Peter Fox made a fine cover tackle to avert the immediate danger before Mellor knocked on close to the line on the next tackle.

From there the visitors, playing under new coach Gary Thornton, steadied themselves.

Doncaster had scored seven tries against the Bulls on April 26 and they looked lively when they attacked again here.

After that early chance for Bradford which was spurned, the visitors went on to enjoy three successive sets deep in home territory.

The Bulls could have buckled in the face of such incessant pressure, with Mike Emmett going close. But they held firm and hit Doncaster with a vicious sucker-punch in the seventh minute.

It was a delightful effort from prop Adam Sidlow, who collected a pass from Gaskell around 30 metres out.

Sidlow spotted a gap in the Doncaster defence, went for it and showed impressive pace to gallop clear inside the right channel for a fine individual score.

It was not the kind of try you expect to see a prop scoring but it underlined Sidlow's athleticism and speed.

Shaw could not convert from a difficult angle but the Bulls began to move through the gears and had their second try four minutes later.

After Adam Henry had done well to avoid conceding a goal-line drop-out from Jansin Turgot's grubber kick, Bradford headed upfield and their pressure culminated in Tom Olbison's pass sending Addy over from close range.

This time Shaw added the extras to make it 10-0 but the Bulls were dealt a blow moments later when Mellor picked up a knock and was helped off the field.

He was replaced by Jean-Philippe Baile at loose forward – but the hosts soon had their third try, which was the result of some exhilarating attacking play.

Gaskell found Williams advancing down the left flank and the former Leeds man subsequently found Purtell inside him.

Purtell sent the ball back to Williams and their skilful handling led to Shaw bustling his way over the line for try number three in the 14th minute.

Doncaster replied four minutes later when, after Baile fumbled, Pasqualle Dunn took advantage of the free play to hack the ball forward and touch down.

Dave Scott added the extras – but normal service was soon resumed as a loose pass from Gaskell was picked up by Purtell and he sent Williams over in the left corner.

Bulls v Doncaster picture gallery

Williams thought he had scored again on the stroke of half-time but an earlier knock-on put paid to that and the Bulls went in at the interval with an 18-6 lead.

Shaw had taken a knock in the first half under a high ball and was replaced at half-time by Mendeika, who wasted no time showing what he can do.

Again Purtell found Williams inside the left channel and the winger's pass invited the supporting Mendeika to scamper over from 20 metres out. The former Warrington man finished well and at this point Doncaster knew it was game over.

The Bulls' fitness levels and skill began to tell as they basically battered Doncaster from start to finish in the second half with an avalanche of tries.

Williams profited from a clever grubber kick from O'Brien to score his second and then Etu Uaisele collected possession from Tom Olbison's marauding break inside the right channel.

Henry then piled over from close range as Doncaster, quite frankly, capitulated.

Crossley barrelled over the line for his first try before Williams brilliantly broke clear down the left-hand touchline and sent the supporting Gaskell clear from 30 metres out.

Gaskell was soon caught with an elbow from Doncaster prop Matt Groat, who was subsequently sin-binned.

The Bulls play-maker could not continue but Crossley crashed over the line for his second try and the procession continued when Mendeika collected O'Brien's short inside pass to score.

Williams produced another neat finish for his hat-trick before underlining his predatory instincts again late on for his fourth, taking another pass from Purtell to score in the left corner again.

Attendance: 4,982