Bradford Bulls 42, Sheffield Eagles 10

GOODNESS knows Lee Gaskell has been sorely missed in recent weeks – but his return to action showed the Bulls just what they have been missing.

Moreover, it hinted at what Bradford might be capable of over the next few weeks and encouraged realistic hopes of promotion.

The talismanic stand-off had not played since Doncaster prop Matt Groat broke his jaw at Odsal on June 7. That forced Gaskell to miss the last eight matches of the regular season, a period in which Jimmy Lowes' men struggled badly for attacking cohesion at times.

But yesterday he helped to create two early tries for Danny Williams and also crossed the line himself as the Bulls blitzed Sheffield during a rampant opening quarter.

Although he was not as his devastating best as he returns to full match fitness, Gaskell still went on to complete a hat-trick in the second half as Bradford coasted to a comfortable victory.

Not that Lowes was overly impressed. When it was put to the Bulls head coach that Gaskell had showed some outstanding quality, Lowes was nonplussed.

Indeed, the legendary former Bradford hooker cut a frustrated figure after his side failed to hammer home their advantage in a disjointed second half.

Perhaps it was the back injury which Jake Mullaney picked up and forced him off in the final quarter which irked Lowes. But with the majority of their key players available and new recruit Dane Nielsen due to make his bow at Wakefield on Saturday, things are looking up for the Bulls.

They sit top of the Qualifiers table after the first round of Super 8s fixtures and they will head to Belle Vue to face the Wildcats full of confidence and self-belief.

Lowes had stressed he was never overly concerned about a sluggish end to the season which saw the Bulls win only one of their last five games.

With so many key players, not least Gaskell, having missed the regular season run-in, Lowes had good reason to be optimistic about what lay ahead.

With other regulars such as Williams, Adrian Purtell and Dale Ferguson back in the side, and Matt Ryan making his debut off the bench, this was the strongest the Bulls had looked for weeks – and it showed.

Sheffield simply could not cope with the hosts in the opening quarter as Williams completed an early brace before Gaskell, Jay Pitts and Adam Henry all went over before the break. An interval scoreline of 26-6 effectively put the game to bed.

Nielsen was introduced to the crowd shortly before kick-off following his arrival in the UK over the weekend and had apparently been keen to play.

He watched on as the Bulls made a vibrant start and led inside the third minute when Mullaney drove at the heart of the Eagles' defence.

Although his progress was halted, neat handling from Adam O'Brien and the impressive Danny Addy led to Gaskell sending a looping pass to Williams. The winger had time and space to dive over in the left corner and the crowd erupted.

From that point on, the Bulls seemed destined to prevail – and so it proved.

The architect of the victory was, of course, Gaskell and he was at it again in the eighth minute, helping to orchestrate another deft handling sequence which culminated in Purtell sending Williams clear inside the left channel again.

They were relatively simple finishes from Williams but he took them both well and will take some shifting from the left-wing berth after this display.

Bulls v Sheffield match pictures

The energy coursing through the veins of Lowes' side was no more evident than when Adam Sidlow collected possession on halfway and embarked on a searing diagonal break inside the left channel. He threatened to go all the way but Dave Petersen denied him with a saving tackle just short of the line.

Sidlow attempted to ground the ball but was penalised for a double movement by referee Matt Thomason. That gave the Eagles the opportunity to move upfield and full back Quentin Laulu-Togagae's run was halted by Mullaney's fine tackle, before centre Sam Smeaton was held up over the line.

That was about as good as it got for Mark Aston's men as the Bulls struck again in the 14th minute when more impressive handling saw Williams and Pitts combine to send Gaskell over in the left corner.

Addy then kicked a 40-20 to underline his class, before Purtell collected a pass from Gaskell to cross the line from close range. The try was disallowed, however, with Gaskell's pass deemed to be forward.

The Bulls continued to threaten at every opportunity and they had a fourth try in the 26th minute when Pitts collected possession ten metres out and barged his way through the Shefffield defence to score all too easily.

It was a nice way for Pitts to mark his 150th career appearance and 44th outing for the Bulls.

Addy's second conversion made it 20-0 but the Eagles gradually woke up and forced two goal-line drop-outs in quick succession to ask some serious questions of the Bulls' defence. Pleasingly for Lowes, his men had the answers as they defended with vigour to keep the Eagles at bay.

But the visitors continued to probe and they were finally rewarded in the 34th minute when winger Misi Taulapapa took Smeaton's pass to score in the right corner.

Former Bulls player Kyle Briggs converted from the touchline but the Bulls struck their fifth try shortly before half-time when Addy's clever grubber kick was pounced on by Henry to touch down.

Nine minutes into a low-key second half, Gaskell grabbed his second try when O'Brien's pass fell kindly into his path and he grounded with ease.

Addy's conversion attempt rebounded off an upright and the Bulls generally struggled to penetrate the Eagles' defence. But they scored again in the 64th minute when Gaskell's speed and strength saw him scythe through the Sheffield rearguard to score inside the left channel.

With minutes remaining, James Clare marked his home debut with a try after O'Brien and Gaskell combined to find him ten metres out. Clare showed impressive strength to outmuscle an Eagles defender to ground the ball and Addy booted his fifth conversion.

Menzie Yere crossed the line for Sheffield late on in the left corner but the Bulls had long since secured the points.

Attendance: 6,032