Wigan Warriors 38, Bradford Bulls 4; Nigel Askham at Central Park.

The Bulls season was encapsulated in 80 minutes as their chances of retaining their Super League crown were put firmly in perspective.

Again there was no real shortage of effort but their one-dimensional attacking approach was woefully inadequate against the meanest defence in the competition.

And no Bulls game would be complete these days without a string of injuries to make a difficult task even harder against a side peaking at just the right time.

Matthew Elliott has continued to talk up his side's chances in the play-offs but there is no doubt this was a shattering blow to confidence, not to mention the strength of the squad, and it will take a mighty effort now to make anything of the 1998 season.

Wigan fans made the most of it too with cries of "you're not champions anymore" and "one-season wonders" but another large Bulls following probably won the vocal battle with some great support in what has been a testing season.

Sadly there weren't too many victories where it really mattered as the Warriors extra class all over the field shone through from start to finish.

The Bulls had made a pretty solid start with the pack looking more than capable of holding its own but Wigan weren't about to be drawn into a battle down the middle and their extra speed around the field soon began to pose problems.

Andy Johnson went in off Tony Smith's pass and two Andy Farrell penalties gave them a 10-0 buffer in the opening half-hour but the real killer blows were landed in a seven minute spell up to the break.

First Jeremy Donougher lost possession in his own 22 and moments later Johnson was pouncing for his second off Robbie McCormack's diagonal kick.

Then, as the Bulls made a determined bid to post some points before the break, Jimmy Lowes was hammered in a three-man tackle and played no further part.

With several players also carrying knocks it was a damage limitation exercise after that and when Wigan roared in again through Bingley-product Simon Haughton and Tony Mestrov within ten minutes of the re-start the Bulls didn't seem to be making a good fist of that either.

But they refused to buckle despite still looking very limited on attack, although fittingly it was Abi Ekoku who eventually broke their duck.

The big centre was their most potent attacking weapon all night and showed his growing confidence to finish off a rare clean handling move 13 minutes from time.

There was still time though for Wigan to underline their dominance with centre Gary Connolly finishing off two flowing raids, the second inspired by Odsal-bound Henry Paul inside his own 22 but he showed only glimpses of his recent storming form.

He did have an important hand in Mestrov's try but was denied one himself when Paul Medley got back superbly to deny him after Spruce had done equally well to halt a flying Robinson - efforts which typified the Bulls unquestionable spirit.

But it will clearly take more than effort to extend their season beyond Knowsley Road in a fortnight or so and after more cruel injury setbacks the tank is virtually running on empty.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.