BRADFORD Bulls Women kept alive their mathematical chances of making the Super League top four with a 32-10 win over Featherstone at Odsal.

But with just one game left, it remains highly unlikely that they could leapfrog Castleford, who are two points ahead of them in the final play-off spot with a match in hand and a vastly superior points difference.

However, Bulls were determined to claim their fifth win of the season and took the lead when Stacey Greenwood’s 50-metre break allowed a quick play-the-ball from which Danielle Bose set up Amy Hardcastle to burst over.

The pair linked up again, with Bose’s quick offload finding Hardcastle to touch down again. Leah Jones added the extras to make it 10-0 after 12 minutes.

Greenwood’s runs were causing all sorts of problems for the Featherstone guard and she finally got her reward, breaking free on halfway and powering under the sticks.

Bradford increased their lead further just before the break as Hepworth’s kick into the in-goal area bounced kindly for Greenwood to charge upfield, before offloading to Hardcastle to complete a length of the field try.

Jones’ conversion was good to make it 24-0 at half-time.

Hardcastle was at it again soon after the restart, collecting Stacy Wilson’s pass to bulldoze over for her fourth try.

Featherstone recorded their first points 57 minutes in as Hepworth buried her way over after fantastic defence had brought down Charley Blackburn just short.

Barford added a 67th-minute try and Bulls had to withstand further heavy pressure before Reagan Walker crossed for the Bulls after collecting Amy Broadman’s pass.

Bradford head coach Mark Prescott said: “In spells we were excellent, and then not so great in some. Perhaps we could have turned the screw a little and put more points on the board.

“We have done a lot of work recently on defence, especially the contact and getting numbers in, slowing play, so I was impressed with the defensive effort.”

Hardcastle said: “I haven’t scored four tries in a long time.

“As a team we played really well, especially shifting the ball to the right. Stacey did great finding me, and the two of us pushed the support so that also helped.”

Greenwood was happy with her contribution and said: “Featherstone are a good side, it wasn’t an easy game, but right now I feel good, I’m on the top of my game.

“I suffered a severe shoulder injury so have been out for most of the season, but I’ve trained hard working up to coming back and I’m feeling really good.”

Castleford can seal their play-off spot against Featherstone this weekend before Bulls face their final game of the league season at Wigan on September 30.