Bulls 18, Halifax 52

THERE have been more twists and turns in these Supers 8s Qualifiers than someone dancing to Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker.

However, the Bulls must be hoping there is one more plot change when they face favourites Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Belle Vue in the Million Pound Game next Saturday (2.50pm).

Bradford coach Jimmy Lowes understandably took the decision to rest some of his key players against Halifax – only six of the 17 in the match-day squad featured in the uplifting victory at Leigh Centurions.

But what he did not expect was the second-half capitulation that his team produced as the pacy and skilful part-timers ran in 40 unanswered points – 36 in the second half alone – to scupper any chance that his side had of staging next weekend's much-heralded clash.

There was little hint of what was to come when the teams went in at half-time with the Bulls leading 18-16 but every one of the seven tries that Richard Marshall's visitors scored in the second half twisted the knife a little.

Pretty soon what was a trickle of spectators leaving the ground became a stream and by the end a fair proportion of the home fans among the crowd had opted for an early exit.

Despite only centre Matty Blythe, winger James Clare, scrum half Harry Siejka, prop Paul Clough and, on the bench, Steve Crossley surviving from the 32-16 win at Centurions, the home side began on the front foot, forcing a goal-line drop-out in their first attack despite having allowed the kick-off to bounce before being claimed by Ryan Shaw.

Then second row Matt Ryan showed his strength by charging through for a third-minute try, full back Shaw adding the extras – but Halifax responded swiftly.

They were ahead by the 12th minute after winger Tommy Saxton had found the line all too easily and Steve Tyrer had brilliantly caught Scott Murrell's cross-kick prior to finding the Bulls' defensive line parting.

Tyrer's try was awarded after recourse to the video referee to see whether he was ahead of the kicker (he marginally wasn't) and although his successful goals made it 12-6, it needed a mixture of bravery, anticipation and skilful handling by Shaw to level matters, while he also added a goal to his try.

Although the Bulls were unlucky when Siejka's wicked kick brushed the fingers of a Halifax defender, only for them not to be given head and feed near the Halifax line, there was no element of luck about the try that put them ahead again in the 29th minute. Clare's neat break was backed up by Shaw, who went over for his second and added the two points.

Halifax, who had already beaten the Bulls this season at The Shay, then narrowed the half-time deficit to 18-16 when second row Dane Manning found space all too easily in the 38th minute, Tyrer's kick hitting an upright.

And they almost took the lead before the hooter, Clare having to pat the ball dead after Halifax stand-off Ben Johnston had again shown his elusive qualities.

The first half had been an entertaining ding-dong, with Richard Moore a positive presence, and it seemed that the Bulls would start the second in the ascendancy when Halifax's Ryan Maneely was sin-binned by referee Ben Thaler for a dangerous tackle on Alex Mellor.

Yet far from exploiting the one-man advantage, the Bulls found themselves 22-18 down by the time Maneely returned to the field.

Former Bulls loanee James Saltonstall was increasingly influential in a dominant Halifax second-half display.

Bulls v Halifax match pictures

Having initially shown himself to be safe under the high ball, he broke at speed and the visitors got away with a pass that looked suspiciously forward, Saxton scoring on the left wing for Tyrer to goal.

Lee Gaskell's entrance in the 52nd minute, after missing four matches with bruised kidneys, brought loud cheers, and Jean-Philippe Baile – complete with head bandage – soon went close to a try.

With both sides prepared to unload the ball in the tackle, and particularly Moore, there were some exciting and hairy moments before the tide began to flow mostly in Halifax's direction.

Saxton's power created a second try for Tyrer and Scott Murrell then forced a Bulls goal-line drop-out, which was followed a minute later by Johnston's first try.

Tyrer's kick extended the visitors' lead to 32-18 in the 59th minute and they were making easy yards now.

An offload by Jacob Fairbank, another former Bull, found Johnston's eager hands for his second try in four minutes – and as Tyrer's kick sailed between the posts to make it 38-18, the easygoing looks among the Halifax off-field staff were in stark contrast to the scowls on the faces of the Bulls' coaches.

And things only got worse, with prop Luke Ambler being held up over the line proving a temporary reprieve.

Second row Adam Tangata dummying his way over seemed to especially delight his team-mates in the 68th minute – and as the departure of the Bulls fans increased to a procession, centre Ben Heaton's try, which Tyrer improved, hoisted Halifax's score to near 50.

Murrell's 40-20 and another Bulls goal-line drop-out merely emphasised the visitors' dominance and although Blythe's run almost created a try for Gaskell, that was the home side's last sniff of any points.

Although the hooter had sounded, Halifax were not about to pass up one last opportunity for an attack, the fleet-footed Saltonstall darting downfield to give Tyrer the chance to complete his hat-trick and deepen Championship Coach of the Year Marshall's satisfaction.

The match had been preceded by a minute's silence in memory of former Bradford Northern and Bulls chairman Jack Bates, while there was a guard of honour afterwards for retiring club captain Chev Walker.

The question that the 80 minutes in between posed, however, is: Although the Bulls were below strength, how much damage to morale will the 34-point defeat create ahead of one of the most important matches in the club's history?

Attendance: 5,163