Bulls 44 Salford 18

 The parachutists from Thornbury Barracks might not have got their timing right but the Bulls certainly have.

Having failed to get into the top eight all season, yesterday’s fourth win on the bounce means if they make it five at Hull on Friday, and Catalans lose at St Helens, they will reach the play-offs. Unbelievable.

Steve McNamara’s men, down in 12th and written off at the end of July, have turned their season around brilliantly to keep the dream alive.

The parachutists, meanwhile, were supposed to drop in with the match ball but got their sums all mixed up and had to turn back to base.

The game was delayed for five minutes as Odsal waited but their no-show was no great loss.

The Bulls – with two-try Jamie Langley and hat-trick man Chris Nero outstanding – got off to their own flier.

Nero was over in just 87 seconds. Salford were penalised for failing to play the ball correctly in the opening set, a schoolboy error which would litter their game.

Bradford seized the opportunity, with Paul Sykes’ delayed short pass sending Nero crashing through a gap.

Paul Deacon converted and they struck again immediately after Langley bust through a tackle and sent Michael Platt galloping away.

The centre found Rikki Sheriffe and, although Mark Henry got back to deny the winger, it only delayed the inevitable.

A long pass from Deacon at the next play switched the attack out to the left, where Nero straightened up and put Semi Tadulala in at the corner.

Deacon added his second kick and Salford couldn’t get any hold in the game.

They conceded three quick penalties in succession to heap more pressure on themselves, prop Craig Stapleton also being put on report for an incident involving Glenn Morrison.

When Stefan Ratchford was pulled for dragging Sheriffe into touch after a tackle was completed, Bradford exploited them again.

They worked towards the posts before Andy Lynch attacked the line and slipped Langley through with a soft pass.

Coming in the penultimate regular match of the season, it was only the loose forward’s first try of the year but a much-deserved effort for another hard-working campaign.

Deacon had no trouble improving from the side of the posts and, at 18-0 after just 12 minutes and with listless Salford so ragged, there was genuine signs a huge score could be rattled up like the 96-16 thrashing of the same opponents here in 2000.

However, the visitors rallied slightly to avoid any such repeat, with John Wilshere going over for the first of his two tries on 16 minutes after the Bulls’ only mistake of the opening period, Dave Halley dropping Ratchford’s hanging kick.

Sam Burgess thought he had scored when he ran backwards with four players hanging onto his giant frame before turning and stretching over but the referee deemed it a double movement.

Halley then limped off with a dead leg, forcing Sykes to reshuffle back to full back and Ben Jeffries returning off the bench for his first game in seven.

They got a little scratchy, Morrison spilling one pass and Steve Menzies getting pinged for crossing, but Langley restored order with his second try.

Salford’s defence opened up far too easily as the loose forward received Lynch’s off-load at a standing start and sped through a big gap before effortlessly stepping full back Karl Fitzpatrick.

The visitors were again without England scrum half Richie Myler and it became clear why when they bizarrely sent out a press release at 3pm yesterday – kick-off time – confirming the long-known rumour that the whizz-kid is going to Warrington in a big-money move.

The Bulls had to defend well when Salford’s restart hit the post and bounced back to former Bulls favourite Robbie Paul, and later when Wilshere was hustled into a knock-on when a try seemed certain.

But they went into the break 24-6 ahead and soon extended that lead in the second period.

After Menzies squeezed out an off-load in the tackle close to the line, Nero picked up and darted over for his second try on 47 minutes.

When Ratchford’s restart sailed dead, it gifted the hosts another attacking opportunity and they made the most of it, with Nero going in for his hat-trick.

Deacon’s neat grubber sat up perfectly for the in-form Aussie, who has now grabbed eight tries in the last seven games.

Burgess then rolled out of a couple of tackles down the left before getting a pass out to Tadulala for an easy walk-in and the Bulls were easing away again.

After beefy prop Ray Cashmere caused a ruck at a scrum on halfway, Henry raced clear and looked destined to score from the rare Salford breakaway. Having bumped off Platt, there was no full back to beat and the centre hared to the corner.

However, Mick Worrincy showed why he is rated one of the fastest forwards in Super League, brilliantly chasing the Salford man down and forcing him to spill as he stretched for the line.

Deacon then recovered to haul down Ian Sibbit after Ratchford – one of the few Salford players to show any class – had got the second-rower in space.

Wilshere did get over soon after, Ratchford improving, but Burgess made sure Salford didn’t get too excited with one massive hit on Cashmere which helped resolve those earlier disagreements.

Henry slipped through some weak tackles to wriggle over on 72 minutes, Ratchford again improving, but the Bulls had the last word when Andy Lynch rolled over at the death.

Now all eyes turn to the KC Stadium – and Knowsley Road….