London Broncos 42 Bradford Bulls 12

IT WAS an afternoon of rain, sleet and sunshine in the capital – but one which left a dark cloud hanging over the Bulls' survival hopes.

After an encouraging opening to their Championship clash with the Broncos, Leigh Beattie's boys were blown away by the promotion-chasers.

And while both the weather and scoring were slightly more becalmed in the second half, the damage had been done and the Bulls' 'winning streak' was well and truly over.

Following the successive victories over Swinton and then Toulouse, confidence certainly wasn't a problem for Bradford heading into this testing encounter on the 3G surface at Ealing Trailfinders' rugby union ground.

However, team selection was more of an issue for the Bulls management team. As reported, captain Leon Pryce and on-loan Leeds half back Jordan Lilley were both missing from the visitors' squad – due to injury and a recall from their parent club respectively.

This provided Lee Smith with an opportunity to finally take to the field for Bradford – at stand off – while Iliess Macani, Oscar Thomas, Joe Keyes, Jon Magrin and Scott Moore all lined up against their former club.

Ex-Bulls skipper Adrian Purtell and Jay Pitts were among a plethora of starters on the opposite side with Bradford links. Yet any thoughts of old mates doing the Bulls any favours were soon dispelled on a frenetic afternoon in London.

After an even start which saw both sides enjoy their share of territory and possession early on, it was the hosts who struck first.

A fine, flowing attack culminated with Will Barthau feeding Alex Walker to cut through the away defence and scramble over. Jarrod Sammut, another former Bull, booted the two extras to give the home support plenty to cheer as the rain fell.

Things soon got worse for the Bulls as Magrin received a big hit from a three-man tackle and left the field – for Colton Roche – looking more than a little dazed and not to return.

The 2017 Bulls are made of strong stuff though and almost got on the scoresheet themselves in the 15th minute when Ross Oakes came up a yard short on the final tackle.

Before the midway point of the opening period however, the Broncos had doubled their advantage.

Again the Londoners had joy quickly spreading the ball out to the right wing, with Purtell giving Elliot Kear an easy run-in near the corner. Sammut did the rest and it was 12-0 despite the Bulls matching their hosts for much of that opening 20-minute spell.

The next score was going to be crucial and the visitors made sure they claimed it with a richly deserved try to reduce the arrears.

A lovely flowing move came to fruition when bustling hooker Scott Moore fed Kevin Larroyer and the French second row evaded two would-be tacklers before dotting down. The dependable Thomas booted two more points and the Bulls were right back in it.

Or were they? Seconds later, the 12-point home advantage was re-established as Matt Garside seized on a loose Bulls pass and charged 40 yards unopposed to touch down.

It was a key moment in the clash, giving the hosts a timely boost and knocking the wind out of the Bulls' sails following their brief fightback. Sammut made it three from three from right in front of the posts and it was 18-6.

The Bulls desperately needed to remain in touch ahead of the break. But it wasn't to be as poor defending allowed Barthau to twist and turn before wriggling over the line – Sammut taking the score to 24-6 with his kick.

It could have been even worse moments later but for a fine try-saving tackle two yards out from Roche when a fifth Broncos score looked inevitable.

Thomas did well to hold up Barthau as London really upped the pressure but the Bulls could not hold out until half-time, Smith missing a crucial tackle and allowing Garside to power over the whitewash for his second try.

Sammut continued his perfect kicking record to complete the half with the capital boys well in the ascendancy at 30-6 ahead.

The Broncos were straight on the attack in the second period but could not add to their tally in the early stages.

Instead it was the battling Bulls who went close on two occasions as Roche dropped the ball five yards out before Smith's jinking run was halted inches away from the whitewash.

After a minor scuffle in their own half – which referee Tom Grant nipped in the bud with a mere ticking off – the Bulls roared up the other end of the field to land their second try.

With Thomas halted shy of the line, Moore quickly stepped in at dummy half to feed the on-rushing Roche, who thundered over with two tacklers for company. This stirred the Broncos back into life and the Bulls were forced to resort to all-out defence to limit the damage late on.

Beattie's exhausted line-up battled on gamely but a high tackle from Moore gave Sammut the chance to extend the Broncos' lead by two more points as the game headed into the final 20 minutes.

The visitors were within seven minutes of the hooter when Purtell's excellent line break and offload gave 'that' man Sammut the simple task of skating over and capping his fine performance with a try. The stand-off converted the simple kick and it was 38-12.

There was still time for the hosts to add another try, and put some gloss on the score, with a truly woeful score from a Bulls perspective.

Kieran Dixon stripped the ball from Ryan in the tackle before escaping two attempted tackles on the right-hand touchline and trotting over. On the bright side – slightly – Sammut finally missed a kick

The Broncos had their tails up again and went all-out for an eighth try in the closing minute. But the hooter sounded with Purtell held up on the line to spare the Bulls any more pain on a day they will want to forget in a hurry.

A chance to get their survival battle back on track comes this Sunday with Batley's visit to Odsal.