Bulls 47 Oldham Roughyeds 12

LET the zero party begin!

After a wait of nine games, the Bulls finally wiped out the 12-point deduction imposed by the Rugby Football League.

Coach Geoff Toovey celebrated his first official home game in charge with a 47-12 victory against Oldham Roughyeds who are also in trouble at the bottom of the Kingstone Press Championship.

But with Dewsbury Rams and Swinton Lions also winning this weekend, the Bulls are still in danger of the drop with only four games to go before the qualifiers.

Bulls fans probably didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the final hooter. But one group waved flags and jumped around on the terrace as if they had just secured a return to Super League.

Maybe, just maybe, their prayers will be answered over the next few weeks?

And, of course, there is still a possibility that a restructuring of the professional game will expand the Championship to 14 teams and provide a lifeline. League officials are expected to discuss that scenario at a meeting today.

Toovey made four changes to the side which had lost 28-14 at Rochdale with Jon Magrin, Ethan Ryan, Mikolaj Oledzki, and James Mendieka replacing Johnny Cambell, Ross Peltier, Liam Kirk, and Omari Caro.

Magrin was back after serving a one game ban and winger Ryan after missing two games with an ankle injury.

On loan Leeds prop Oledzki had missed the last three weeks with a shoulder injury and Mendieka was on the bench against Oldham. Colton Roche returned to the bench after knee trouble.

The Bulls were still missing Lee Smith – who is sidelined with a knee injury – and halfback Dane Chisholm who has been ruled out long term following a cruciate knee ligament operation last week.

Oldham arrived at Odsal on the back of seven consecutive defeats – the latest coming just four days earlier against Dewsbury.

Coach Scott Naylor had made seven changes to his squad and been boosted by the arrival of players from London Broncos and Huddersfield Giants.

But the loss of chief playmaker Scott Leatherbarrow, who fell awkwardly in the opening minutes after a challenge from Magrin, was a cruel blow to Naylor's men.

The visitors had been the better side in the opening exchanges but the Bulls took the lead after eight minutes.

James Bentley pounced on a mistake and kicked through a gap for Ryan to sprint 25 yards and score. Oscar Thomas was unable to convert.

Things got better for the Bulls just a few minutes later as Joe Keyes created space with a brilliant dummy before feeding Bentley who scored his 13th try of the season.

Although Thomas missed the conversion again, it was just the sort of start needed to lift confidence.

The Bulls were leading 14-0 by the 16th minute thanks to a second try from Ryan who dived over spectacularly in the corner following swift passes from Keyes and Thomas.

Once again Thomas found the angle too hard to score from.

Oldham looked vulnerable, especially when Jack Spencer followed Leatherbarrow off the pitch. They had arrived on the back of a bad defeat and were committing far too many errors.

Surely this was going to be the afternoon when the Bulls enjoyed a long overdue change in fortunes.

Ryan completed a hat-trick of tries after 27 minutes with another thrilling finish near the corner flag. Thomas converted from a tight angle to put the Bulls 20 points clear.

Bulls supporters were finally being given something to cheer after enduring weeks of frustration.

Ross Oakes so nearly increased the lead but dropped the ball, under pressure, as he pushed over the line.

Thomas added a point, bang on half-time, with a great piece of opportunism, shooting between the posts from over 40 metres.

It had been the most satisfying first half of the season from a Bulls' perspective although, in fairness, the opposition had been there for the taking and were desperately missing the influence of Leatherbarrow.

Oldham briefly threatened to trouble the scorers after the interval but the Bulls defended impressively to keep them out. Kenny Hughes was held up after pushing towards the line and then second rower Danny Langtree dropped the ball under strong pressure.

Buoyed by their rearguard efforts, the Bulls soon increased the lead to 25-0 when Ryan went over in the corner for the fourth time in the match, diving one handed to put the ball down.

It was proving all too easy to find gaps in the Oldham defence and Mendeika took advantage of another hole on the flanks to set up dual-reg winger Ed Chamberlain who made the score 29-0.

Thomas duly converted and the Bulls were in complete command,

Mendeika added another four points on the hour mark with a try in the corner. Thomas missed for the fourth time from seven attempts but, to be fair, all the tries had been scored on the flanks.

Oldham finally got on the scoreboard with 11 minutes to play, a strong run from centre Sam Wood creating the opportunity for Langtree to go over. Dave Hewitt made no mistake with the conversion.

They reduced the deficit further when Hewitt went over and converted again. but Bentley put an end to the brief revival when scoring at the opposite end just a few moments later. Thomas, again out on the touchline, executed the kick with perfection.

There was just time for Chamberlain to put the icing on the cake with the best try of the afternoon.

The dual-reg winger showed lightning pace to avoid a series of attempted tackles and burst in from the flank before scoring under the posts.

Thomas's successful kick made it 47-12 just before the hooter sounded – and the celebrations could begin!