Bradford Bulls rise to chairman's challenge as Salford succumb to Lowes men

BULLS chairman Marc Green called it “unarguably the biggest game in the club’s recent history” on Twitter prior to kick-off.

No pressure then, chaps.

Green’s words revealed how much the game meant as the Bulls sought to re-establish their promotion credentials after the Wakefield humiliation.

Well, Jimmy Lowes’ men rose to the challenge in stunning fashion as they made a mockery of the supposed gulf between the Championship and Super League.

In the previous seven middle-eight encounters between top flight and second-tier clubs, there had been seven victories for the Super League sides.

That run was ended in remarkable fashion by a Bulls side who dominated from start to finish with a quite remarkable victory.

At times this season, Bradford have stuttered and stumbled to wins over part-time opposition.

Perhaps yesterday the real Bradford Bulls stood up.

Certainly, if Lowes’ troops can conjure this kind of performance in their remaining four games, then promotion has to be a realistic goal.

The way the Bulls took the game by the scruff of the neck and rarely let the pace drop augurs well for the tests that lie ahead.

The speed, skill and aggression that Bradford showed harvested early tries for Dale Ferguson and a delightful counter-attacking effort from former Salford winger Danny Williams.

Green roared his approval from the balcony of the directors’ lounge and the Bulls, overflowing with energy, self-belief and desire, were soon 12-0 up and led 17-4 at the break.

It was the least they deserved for their overwhelming superiority during the first half.

At Belle Vue, the Bulls had looked too bad to go up.

On yesterday’s evidence, they are too good to stay down.

What a difference a week makes.

It is worth remembering that the Bulls were missing their two principal half-backs in Lee Gaskell and Harry Siejka through injury.

It should also be noted that Salford fielded a star-studded side, with stellar names such as Ben Jones-Bishop, Junior Sa’u, Rangi Chase, Michael Dobson, Adrian Morley and Cory Paterson on their teamsheet.

But the Bulls were better in every department during the first half and their completion rate was a staggering 100 per cent.

That tells you something.

In fact, had Salford not defended their line doggedly on at least a handful of occasions, the Bulls’ interval lead could have been considerably greater.

Bradford dominated possession and fizzed with vibrancy all over the park at a sun-kissed Odsal.

Paul Clough and Adam Sidlow laid the platform, allowing Adam O’Brien to torment the Red Devils at dummy half as Danny Addy and Mullaney posed some questions that Salford simply had no answer to.

Dane Nielsen started in the centres and enjoyed a steady game, playing the full 80 minutes, while James Clare enjoyed a particularly impressive game at full back.

After last week’s abject surrender at Wakefield, Lowes was seeking a performance and a result.

He got both, although Salford actually fashioned the first opportunity of the match and should really have led before Ferguson put the Bulls ahead.

Chase produced a delightful piece of skill which saw him chip the ball past a Bradford defender and find Weller Hauraki in support.

Hauraki then found Niall Evalds but the full back’s progress was halted and Chase spilt the ball on the next tackle.

That was the cue for Bradford to seize control of the match and they led in the fourth minute when some delightful handling from Sidlow and Clough.

The ball was eventually worked out to Ferguson, who had strength and speed to plunge over the line for a try which Addy converted.

Addy, Adrian Purtell and Mullaney were then all denied from close range thanks to some excellent Salford defending.

Moments later, Clare’s high kick was needlessly dropped by Jones-Bishop, under no pressure, at the expense of a goal-line drop-out.

The Bulls then claimed their second try in exhilarating fashion in the 17th minute.

A kick from Dobson was picked up by Clare and he raced from the edge of his 20-metre line before finding Williams in support on halfway.

The former Salford man had enough speed to outstrip the visiting defence and sprint under the posts for a brilliant breakaway score.

Addy converted again to make it 12-0 and the Bulls continued to pummel their visitors’ line.

Salford went close through Paterson but then Mullaney seized centre stage with his first try, brilliantly sprinting past a leaden-footed Red Devils defence inside the left channel to score in the corner.

Addy failed to convert and Salford replied in the 36th minute when Chase cast a spell on the Bulls’ defence and danced his way through to score.

Mullaney then showed intelligence to add a drop-goal right on the hooter to make it 17-4.

That might have proved crucial, but the Bulls need not have worried as they had plenty more points in the bag in the second half.

Three minutes after the restart, Mullaney was at it again, dancing and darting his way through the Salford defence for another fine individual effort.

Sadly, his afternoon did not last much longer as he was forced to depart with a tight calf and headed down the tunnel, leaving Purtell to partner Addy in the halves.

Addy was magnificent again, and he scored a brilliant try in the 52nd minute when the Bulls conjured a delightful move which saw the ball worked to Tom Olbison.

The second-rower broke the Salford line inside the right channel and showed speed and intelligence to find his good mate Addy in support to sprint clear from 30 metres out.

The punishment continued for Salford as Clare burrowed his way over the line from acting half and then Purtell crossed the line with ease.

Salford replied when Iain Thornley touched down in the left corner in the 66th minute but the game had long since ended as a serious contest.

Three minutes later, Salford looked certain to score again when Evalds broke clear down the right flank.

Who was there to deny him with an outstanding saving tackle?

It was Clare again, who epitomised the desire and energy which might, just might, take the Bulls back into Super League.