ALEX Mellor is relieved to have avoided another naked run after breaking his try-scoring duck – and is now hoping for more regular game-time.

Now in his fourth season in the first-team, the highly-regarded back-rower finally got on the scoresheet for Bulls in last week’s thumping win at Dewsbury.

Mellor supported Jay Pitts’ fine break and outstripped the Rams’ defence to score his first senior try during the second half.

That ensured he will not have to endure the traditional humiliation for failing to cross the whitewash during a season.

The 21-year-old, who made his first-team debut against Warrington in June 2013, said: “I’ve done the naked run three years in a row, so now I can sit back with my feet up and watch others do it.

“That’s always a positive and I was happy to be involved because we felt like we needed to get the ball rolling again at Dewsbury and I was proud to be a part of that.

“We showed some good signs as a team and we are hard to live with when we play like we did in the second half.

“That wasn’t even us at our best either, as we handed them a lot of ball and had to defend a lot on our goal-line.

“I think the character we showed to defend three or four sets on our line and then kick on and score a lot of points at the other end was massive for us. We just need to move up into third and fourth gear now.”

Mellor has appeared in six of the Bulls’ 10 games so far this year and offers versatility in the second row, loose forward and even in the centres.

The Halifax lad, who remains under contract for next season, said: “I’ll fill in wherever I am needed and where I prefer is not really relevant.

“I want to perform and play as well as I can in hopefully every game we play, but that’s up to the coach.”

Mellor was delighted to see academy centre Ross Oakes make such a promising debut alongside Ethan Ryan on the Bulls’ right edge.

“I thought he was absolutely outstanding,” added Mellor.

“A lot of Dewsbury’s attacks came down their side but Ross and Ethan dealt it with superbly, so credit to them and they did themselves proud.

“It’s good to see the young lads not just playing, but coming in and doing well.”

The Bulls have no game this weekend due to their Challenge Cup exit.