Bradford Bulls 10 Toulouse 26

SO the axe has finally fallen on Bulls’ survival hopes as a fifth defeat on the spin condemned them to a bottom two finish.

Though rivals Swinton and Oldham lost matches, Bradford cannot earn enough points to climb out of the bottom two relegation zone, even with six Championship Shield games still remaining.

In truth, any realistic hopes of mounting a great escape had passed well before yesterday and Bulls’ loyal supporters have had plenty of time to come to terms with going down.

But that won’t make it any less painful now the prospect of third-tier rugby league has become reality.

It’s just over a decade that the four-time Super League winners were crowned World Club Challenge champions. Now the Bulls are facing trips to outposts such as Hemel, Coventry and Oxford.

Unless of course, the rumours of an RFL restructure of its divisions, which could see an expanded Championship, are true. That could yet save the once-mighty Bulls from the ignominy of dropping into League One.

But hope of a resurrection remains speculation at this stage and couldn’t numb yesterday’s disappointment.

Visitors Toulouse had looked on course for the Middle Eights qualifiers before four defeats in a row saw them surprisingly miss out by a point to Featherstone.

Their away form has proved their Achilles heel, with the Frenchmen losing 29-22 at Odsal earlier in the campaign.

But they showed what they can do on the road after beating league leaders shield winners Hull KR on their last away trip.

A cold wind and dull day was a pre-cursor for a gloomy afternoon for Bulls as Toulouse got off to a flier when Rhys Curran went over after slick play despite home fans protesting over a forward pass.

Mark Kheirrallah kicked the extras but Bulls thought they had got off the mark themselves when Vila Halafihi touched down for what he thought was his second try of the season but the referee pulled play back for a knock-on after the kick and chase.

Toulouse looked the more dangerous side but the ease with which Gavin Marguerite scythed through some flimsy tackles down the Bulls left edge was disappointing as he increased the French side’s lead.

At 12-0 down, it looked like a long afternoon would be in prospect for the Bulls faithful.

But they were given hope when Lee Smith's looping pass over the top of two defenders gave Iliess Macani room to step inside and touch down for a try in the righthand corner.

Smith – who was back after a four-month absence with a knee injury – was unable to convert.

Toulouse hit back to extend their lead when Curran crossed the line again after a pass from Anthony Marion, the Odsal crowd’s protests for another forward pass falling on deaf ears.

At 18-4 down the Bulls already looked up against it but a try from Ross Peltier just before the break saw them go into the dressing room with renewed hope.

Peltier – again one of the brighter sparks for the hosts – benefited from smart play by Halafihi, who did well to keep the ball in play down the lefthand touchline before the ball was recycled for the prop to power over near the sticks.

Smith converted and Bulls were right back in the game at 18-10 turning round for the second half.

Bulls’ Challenge Cup final-winning women’s team were introduced on the pitch during the interval and were given a rapturous reception. That preceded a lap of honour and the game had kicked off again while fans in the main stand gave them a standing ovation.

It was a show of support which revealed just how much that victory had meant to fans starved off any success in recent seasons.

Yet those fans had hardly sat down when Toulouse added to their lead as Marguerite went over for his second try in the righthand corner.

Bulls had needed to put their visitors under pressure from the off but instead found themselves further behind, though Kheirrallah was unable to convert.

Lee Smith was starting to show his influence and made a superb interception on the Bulls 20-metre line to launch an attack.

Bradford enjoyed enough possession in the second half but they couldn’t find the finishing touches when they looked certain to score.

James Mendeika was a classic example when he took a smart pass inside the Toulouse ten-metre line from Cory Aston but he couldn’t hold on to it and knocked on with the line beckoning.

Scott Moore also looked like he had scored after an impressive break but, with Bulls fans cheering a try, referee John McMullen instead rewarded a knock-on. It was certainly not the first time the official’s decision had infuriated the home support.

Joe Keyes made a great break after an interception deep in his own half but he didn’t have the legs on the chasing Toulouse defender and lost the ball in the tackle 35 metres out.

Then it was Toulouse’s turn to feel hard done by the referee as try celebrations were cut short for a knock on after good defensive work from Macani and Josh Rickett down their left edge.

But with the clock ticking on Bulls survival hopes, it was all over when Tony Maurel went in down the lefthand corner unopposed.

It was a tame end to a game Bulls could have won had their execution been better at key moments.

A familiar tale then as the 12-point penalty for going into liquidation at the start of the year has proved too difficult for the Bulls to overcome.

They are now left hoping that decisions off the pitch by the RFL can save them from the drop, with only pride left to play for in the six remaining Championship Shield games.