BRADFORD Bulls Women kept alive their outside chance of a Super League top four spot with a 28-16 win over Castleford Tigers at Odsal.

In-form utility back and former football star Leah Jones scored the first points of the game.

Inspired by her length of the field try in the previous weekend’s Challenge Shield final victory, the pace ace broke the whitewash.

Castleford quickly responded with their own try through Ellie Lamb, although an unsuccessful conversion allowed Bradford to maintain the lead.

Bulls went further in front when Savannah Andrade made her way to the line to claim her first of two tries.

Andrade broke the whitewash once more in the second half to extend the advantage to 14-8.

Tigers hit back as Grace Field touched down but Bulls responded as Amy Hardcastle led the charge downfield and rounded off a well-worked move to score, Jones converting.

Half-back Stacey Greenwood scored Bradford’s fifth and final try on her return to action since suffering a bad shoulder injury on the opening day of the season.

Tigers bagged a consolation try but Bulls gained revenge for a 40-16 defeat at Castleford earlier in the season.

Delighted head coach Mark Prescott said: “It was an excellent team performance from the girls. I asked them to give me an 80-minute performance and that’s exactly what they did, showing determination, effort, application, grit and desire.

“I’m really pleased for the girls as we have been saying all season that we aren’t far off, despite some of the results that we have had.

“Today with our backs against the wall somewhat, we came out fighting and showed exactly what we can do, and we need to take that into the last four rounds of the season.”