The Bulls suffered a devastating loss to Castleford to leave their play-off hopes in absolute tatters.

Despite leading 24-18 at the break, they only managed another six points after the interval and simply couldn't hold out.

Mick Potter's side made a superb start, Brett Kearney plucking a Marc Herbert kick out of the air to touch down within two minutes.

Kearney doubled his tally three minutes later off Herbert's excellent inside ball and Patrick Ah Van converted both tries.

Cas hit back through Adam Milner but Gareth Raynor deservedly claimed a try to cap a sequence of play sparked by his 70-metre break.

Yet the Bulls conspired to let Cas back into the game, dreadful defence allowing both Joe Arundel and Rangi Chase to sneak over the try-line. Kirk Dixon converted both to make it 18-18.

Having thrown away their lead, Bradford at least crept back in front before the break, Shad Royston scoring off the half-break and offload from Olivier Elima, Ah Van converting.

Bradford started the second half as they had ended the first, Paul Sykes scoring after Ben Jeffries had made a break down the right, but allowed their advantage to slip.

Former Bull Rob Parker strolled through a gaping hole to touch down and Cas pulled within two when Arundel grabbed his second.

The hosts went on to take the lead for the first time, Stuart Jones slipping too easily through the Bulls' left-edge defence.

Dixon converted and although Bradford had chances to win it late on, they couldn't break through the hosts' defence.

Bulls: Brett Kearney; Patrick Ah Van, Paul Sykes, Elliott Whitehead, Gareth Raynor; Ben Jeffries, Marc Herbert; Andy Lynch, Matt Diskin, Tom Burgess, Olivier Elima, Jamie Langley, Bryn Hargreaves. Interchange: Danny Addy, Shad Royston, Craig Kopczak, Nick Scruton.

Tigers: Ryan McGoldrick; Nick Youngquest, Kirk Dixon, Joe Arundel, Richard Owen; Rangi Chase, Danny Orr; Paul Jackson, Adam Milner, Rob Parker, Brett Ferres, Stuart Jones, Ryan Hudson. Interchange: Nathan Massey, Jordan Thompson, Dean Widders, John Davies.