Play-off hopes fading away as Bradford Bulls blow it against Catalan Dragons

As referee Phil Bentham blew his whistle at the final hooter, he may also have sounded the death-knell for Bradford’s play-off hopes.

Francis Cummins’ side, down to 12 men following the costly late sin-binning of Brett Kearney, were out on their feet.

As several of Cummins’ men slumped to the turf, the ramifications of the result having dawned on them, Catalan Dragons players rejoiced.

While Leon Pryce jumped in the air and celebrated like a giddy teenager, Elliott Whitehead was more diplomatic.

A quick punch of the air, a handshake with colleague Gregory Mounis, and then a quick word of consolation with his former team-mates.

A fifth year in succession without any play-off football now beckons the Bulls after this defeat.

Victory would have lifted them to within two points of Laurent Frayssinous’ side with three rounds of the season remaining.

It will take a major turnaround for the Bulls to now squeeze into the eight, although, with Hull KR occupying the final play-off spot, four points ahead of the Bulls but with an inferior points difference, it is not impossible.

But it certainly felt that way after Cummins’ players had contrived to throw away a commanding 18-4 interval lead.

Catalan are now undefeated in their last seven meetings with Bradford, having won six and drawn one.

They should never have been allowed back into the game.

The home faithful expressed their disgust at Bentham’s officiating but Cummins was honest enough to admit his side had only themselves to blame.

The Dragons’ bench was far superior physically to Bradford’s and that played its part, although Cummins conceded his men gave away too much possession after the break.

The loss of Heath L’Estrange to a knee injury early in the second did Bradford no favours either.

Take nothing away from Catalan, though, who had lost five of their previous six games and showed no little spirit to conjure a fightback which culminated in Thomas Bosc’s 76th-minute drop-goal proving decisive.

An intriguing sub-plot saw Whitehead, Leon Pryce, Steve Menzies, Ian Henderson and Olivier Elima all return to the Provident Stadium.

Cummins made an interesting call by naming Danny Addy in the starting line-up instead of Jarrod Sammut, who was dropped after his display against Wakefield the week previously.

It worked a treat in the first half as Addy twice supplied the passes to send in-form Lulia over the line for his well-taken brace.

Catalan were missing several players in Zeb Taia, Louis Anderson, Jason Baitieri, Mickael Simon, Scott Dureau, Daryl Millard and Morgan Escare.

But Elima and former Leeds full back Brent Webb were back after lengthy injury absences to boost the visitors.

Menzies, Pryce, Henderson and Elima all received warm rounds of applause from the home faithful, who have not forgotten their contribution to the Bradford cause.

But Whitehead was roundly booed following his acrimonious departure in June.

There was also a notable reception for in-form Bulls prop Nick Scruton on his 200th career appearance.

Bradford were largely dominant during the opening 40 minutes and were well worth their 18-4 advantage.

Luke Gale’s kicking game kept the Dragons on the back foot and Kearney’s penchant for supporting play saw him get on the scoresheet for the second week running.

Whitehead was predictably booed again when he got his hands on the ball for the first time close to the Bulls’ line.

But Bradford soon opened the scoring in the fourth minute when, after good work from Matt Diskin, Gale’s high kick led to Catalan conceding a penalty which culminated in Addy’s neat pass sending Lulia over from close range.

Jamie Foster kicked a simple conversion but the Dragons hit back out of nowhere three minutes later when some intricate passing led to Mathias Pala touching down a short-side kick in the left corner.

Bosc failed to add the extras from a difficult angle and the momentum quickly swung back in the Bulls’ favour.

When Whitehead collected a pass from Pryce around the halfway line in the 11th minute, Addy halted his progress with an implacable challenge.

It was indicative of the spirit and drive within the Bulls’ ranks during the first half.

With Scruton and Manuokafoa laying the platform, and Gale, Addy and Diskin all combining to good effect, Catalan found themselves largely on the back foot.

After Whitehead’s challenge on Kearney was penalised by Bentham, the Bulls marched Catalan downfield.

A fine move saw Kearney drive at the heart of the Dragons’ defence inside the right channel, find Adrian Purtell and then take the reverse pass to plunge over in the corner.

It was an excellent try which Foster improved and the onus was now on Catalan to conjure a response.

There were a few formidable drives from their big props and Pryce looked dangerous with the ball in hand, but there were precious few try-scoring opportunities for the Frenchmen.

A number of handling errors undermined them and the Bulls always looked the more dangerous when on the attack.

Accordingly, they claimed their third try of the match in the 22nd minute when Addy found Lulia from a scrum 20 metres out.

The Cook Islands international, who had grabbed a brace the previous week against Wakefield, simply had too much strength as he brushed past Damien Blanch, Whitehead and Bosc to score in the left corner.

It was entirely on merit when the Bulls went in at the break with a 14-point advantage.

L’Estrange was the victim of a late hit and Sammut came on for Chev Walker in a reshuffle which saw Addy moved into the back row.

Goodness knows what Frayssinous said to his players at half-time as they came out firing and scored shortly after the restart.

There was more than a hint of a forward pass in the build-up as the ball was moved to Lopini Paea and he ushered Jamal Fakir charging clear from 20 metres out. Bosc added the extras and the Dragons began to breathe fire.

They battered Bradford’s line with four successive sets which eventually got its reward shortly before the hour mark when Pryce’s neat inside pass sent Webb over from close range.

Now it was game on.

The Dragons kept coming but the Bulls kept them at bay and were rewarded in the 67th minute with a try from Purtell.

The Australian centre almost broke clear moments earlier but he was soon on hand to take Kearney’s pass and score inside the right channel. But with eight minutes remaining, Kearney was sin-binned for holding down Whitehead on the right flank and subsequent Catalan pressure soon resulted in Henderson scooting over from dummy half.

Bosc added the extras and then, with four minutes remaining, he dropped a goal from 30 metres out to drive a knife through the heart of every Bulls player and supporter.

Sammut’s attempt at a drop goal was off target and it was soon game over. It may now be season over too.

Three tries in seven second-half minutes proved crucial as Hull leapfrogged bitter rivals Hull KR with a 38-20 win at MS3 Craven Park.

A penalty try for Kirk Yeaman and further touchdowns from Jamie Shaul and Joe Arundel helped the visitors turn the match around. It was Hull’s third successive win and a third straight defeat for the Robins.

Gareth Hock grabbed four touchdowns for Widnes, who then tossed away victory by conceding three late tries to Castleford in a 42-38 home defeat.

Joel Monaghan scored two tries as Warrington leapfrogged Wigan in the table to move within a point of leaders Huddersfield with a 26-14 win at home to Wakefield on Saturday.