Bulls 6 Swinton 16

JUST when you thought it could not get any worse.

Another week, another defeat for the Bulls – and surely now any hope of catching anyone at the bottom of the Championship has gone.

This Odsal clash with fellow strugglers Swinton was an absolute must-win. Even then, it would only mean a slither of hope to take into the Qualifiers.

Yet the Lions put their off-field woes behind them to eke out a victory which gives them a huge 12-point cushion.

The Bulls will discover on Wednesday morning the details of the Bottom Eights competition. They do know that four of the seven games will be on the road – and nobody needs reminding about the record this season away from Odsal.

There is no way back, of course. Geoff Toovey does not like talking about "mathematical" possibilities and however you look at it, the figures do not add up to finishing anywhere but last.

Survival will have to rely entirely on the generosity of another Rugby Football League restructure to compensate those other Championship clubs who are loathe to wave goodbye to the healthy gate receipt guaranteed by a Bradford visit.

In a predictably attritional afternoon, Swinton were just too streetwise for the Bulls, who were massively handicapped by the contentious dismissal of Johnny Campbell in the first half.

Swinton are in a precarious position off the field, with financial storm clouds once again threatening the proud Manchester club.

They have also had to cope with the departure of highly-thought of coach John Duffy to Featherstone.

But sometimes teams can raise themselves in adversity and Toovey had reminded his Bradford side to be on their guard for a possible Swinton reaction in Stuart Littler's debut game at the helm.

Toovey, though, was in no mood for sympathy for any predicament the visitors may find themselves in. In the battle at the bottom, it's all about self-preservation.

It does help when you can call upon the services of a centre with a wealth of NRL experience. Willie Tonga's clearance came through on Saturday night in the nick of time to finally get a first run-out.

The Aussie, who turns 34 in a fortnight, was partnered in the backs by academy product Josh Rickett, whose previous experience was one game at Workington last season. So once again the Bulls went with an untried half-back pairing.

Swinton, who had not beaten Bradford since 1985, fielded four Wigan loanees in their line-up. One of them, Joe Bretherton, played in a shirt with no number – another indication of the club's precarious position.

But the Lions were not here just to make up the numbers. Far from it – as the home side found to their cost.

Swinton bossed the opening quarter of the game as the Bulls struggled to see the ball, let alone make any inroads.

Excellent defence from full back Brandon Pickersgill held Luke Waterworth on his back. But the early pressure told after 11 minutes when right wing Shaun Robinson collected the ball to dive into the corner.

Robinson threatened a second try in the same spot but was denied by a huge hit from Campbell, who took him into touch.

The Bulls should have levelled by the midway point of the half but again unforced errors proved their downfall – the story of the season. This time it was James Davies who bobbled and dropped just five metres from the line.

Worse followed for the home side when they were reduced to 12 men. Campbell, making the 150th appearance of his career, flattened Mike Butt as the Bulls chased Cory Aston's deep kick. The winger went down in a heap and stayed down as referee Greg Dolan stunned the Odsal crowd by reaching for his red card.

It was a big hit but there was a general feeling that Swinton's gamesmanship had played its part in swaying the decision.

Tempers were rising on and off the pitch and the teams briefly squared up after an incident involving Damian Sironen as Dolan struggled to take control.

More home handling errors gave Swinton the chance to extend their lead but Murphy's pass for Robinson flew past the winger and hit the touch judge in the chest as the line beckoned.

Referee Dolan continued to infuriate the Odsal crowd and awarded a penalty against Ross Peltier right on the hooter, which Chris Hankinson tapped over to give Swinton a 6-0 half-time lead. The officials left the pitch to a chorus of boos.

But the Bulls had hardly threatened a score themselves, with only a couple of sets inside the 20-metre line. It was scrappy, uninspiring stuff.

Tonga tried to spark something at the start of the second half but, having engineered an opening, his pass for Omari Caro was a wild one.

The Australian had also taken a hit in the challenge as he released it and needed medical treatment before gingerly leaving the field.

But Bradford finally made the breakthrough ten minutes in, Caro pressuring Robinson under a high kick from Joe Keyes and knocking it back for Sironen to just about ground.

Aston's goal levelled it up – only for Swinton to respond instantly. Making the most of their man advantage with some quick hands, Liam Forsyth made the break through the Bulls ranks before laying off for Ben White to finish.

Tonga was back on and looked a threat with the ball as the Bulls once more tried to summon a response. He spread the ball wide from one break but Iliess Macani was forced into touch.

But being a man down was taking its toll as the game wore on and Swinton cashed in again with a third try, spreading the play fast for Forsyth to touch down in the left corner.

As the fans grew more fractious with Dolan's refereeing, some decided they had seen enough and headed for an early exit.

The officiating was questionable at times but too many players had been off their game. The Bulls could have no complaints at yet another setback in a year full of them.