Halifax 20 Bulls 18

IT MIGHT have been the shortest trip on the calendar but the Bulls could find no cure to their travel sickness.

A week after reaching ground zero, they remained firmly grounded by a derby defeat at Halifax.

The loss at the Shay was their tenth in 11 games on the road this season – that solitary away success at Swinton in week three seems a long, long time ago.

Swinton are still to visit Odsal on the final day of the regular campaign, an absolutely must-win date in the increasingly desperate fight for Championship survival.

But yesterday was another one where the Bulls might have fancied their chances of narrowing the gap on their relegation rivals. Halifax had, after all, come off a one-point loss at Swinton the week before.

But despite a sturdy defensive effort, the Bulls came up short – and news that fellow strugglers Oldham had shocked Toulouse just added salt to the wound.

Maybe it could have been different with another five minutes after two late, late tries slashed Halifax's advantage. Yet it was like the story of the afternoon as the Bulls did not quite do enough for the points.

Once again, Geoff Toovey's hand was forced over team selection, with both Jordan Lilley and Scott Moore out of his plans.

It would have been little consolation seeing Lilley perform so well for parent club Leeds Rhinos in Thursday's win over St Helens.

Moore began his two-game ban for a dangerous tackle in the recent Rochdale game – a punishment the Bulls were very unhappy about.

So youngster Reiss Butterworth was handed his first start to partner Joe Keyes in a very youthful half-back pairing. It was a huge afternoon for the talented 18-year-old.

At least Toovey could call on the experience of Ashley Gibson at centre, the new recruit from Wakefield coming straight in for the injured Ross Oakes.

Halifax had enjoyed the upper hand over their neighbours in recent encounters, including a 22-12 win at Odsal on Good Friday.

Fax were coming off that upset against the Lions – a result that had done the Bulls no favours – and needed to bounce straight back to keep their top-four ambitions alive.

The home side were further inspired by the presence of players from the 1987 Challenge Cup-winning side to mark the 30th anniversary of their Wembley triumph over St Helens.

They almost had an early score as the Bulls were stretched by a flowing passing move but Ed Barber could not hang on to Jake Bibby's inside pass and fumbled a nailed-on try.

Then referee Nick Bennett came to Bradford's rescue by rejecting a Steve Tyrer score from Josh Wood's grubber kick for offside.

The Bulls weathered the storm and Sam Hallas, captaining the side in Moore's absence, nearly went in from dummy half but was held up short.

Butterworth saw plenty of ball and showed some skill to spin away from two would-be tacklers as the visitors started to probe.

Oscar Thomas sent a long pass out to Ed Chamberlain but Rob Worrincy's tackle bundled the dual-registration winger out of play before he could touch down.

It was Halifax who broke the deadlock midway through the half. Chamberlain's knock-on ten metres out created the danger, finished by an alert spinning run from Josh Wood as Fax kept the ball alive.

Worse quickly followed. Chamberlain knocked down Wood's pass attempting an interception and, from the resulting scrum, centre Ben Heaton charged in from Brandon Moore's bullet delivery.

Suddenly an even contest had tilted firmly in Fax's favour, with Wood and Scott Murrell pulling the strings and troubling the Bulls with their speed of thought.

It was taking on a familiar feel on the road as the Bulls struggled to find their way back into proceedings.

Another penalty for interference allowed Tyrer to slot over from in front the posts to give Fax a 14-point cushion.

The Bulls needed a lift before the break and Butterworth went close with another charge. New boy Gibson's eyes then lit up with the line so close but he was pulled back for a double movement.

Chamberlain, who was having a mixed afternoon, launched a break into the Halifax half but lost the ball in the tackle.

There was still time for the hosts to threaten once more but Heaton knocked on before the line.

The centre threatened again at the start of the second half but was tackled into touch in the nick of time.

Liam Kirk won a penalty 20 metres out to offer the Bulls some daylight. James Mendeika was wrapped up close in but Keyes' dink through was just beyond the chasing James Bentley.

Chamberlain denied Rob Worrincy with a try-saving tackle at the other end – the defensive side of their game remained solid.

The frustration was with the ball and turning good possession into points in an increasingly scrappy contest. Fax were giving them very little room at the line.

Step forward Vila Halafihi. He had never scored in three years as a Bull but finally broke his personal duck in superb fashion, scooping up a loose ball 30 metres out, shrugging off a tackle and bulldozing in for the try.

The Bulls had 20 minutes to pull it back but only a last-ditch tackle from Gibson prevented Bibby instantly increasing the Fax advantage.

The next score was crucial – and, almost inevitably, it came from Daniel Murray.

The on-loan Salford prop had been a big hit for the Bulls early in the season but now the boot was firmly on the other foot as he barged over for a third Halifax try.

Murray had come back to bite them – just as Toovey had feared he would.

Tyrer's simple conversion, bringing up 2,000 career points for the centre, restored the 14-point cushion and effectively killed the comeback. Yet the Bulls showed some spirit to register two late tries.

Ethan Ryan scored in the left corner and then the Widnes connection combined on the right, Ted Chapelhow touching down from Chamberlain's kick through. But agonisingly it proved too little too late as they ran out of time.