A much-improved performance from the Bulls wasn't enough to secure victory as they fell 40-28 to high-flying Warrington.

Almost unrecognisable from the team that had taken a battering at Crusaders the previous week, Bradford put in an heroic effort in difficult circumstances to show the season is far from over yet.

There were still areas for improvement, particularly in defence where a couple of soft tries were conceded, but the green shoots of recovery have started to show following a tough three weeks.

Despite a positive enough start from the Bulls, Chris Riley having all sorts of problems dealing with an early Paul Sykes bomb, the Wolves responded with two swift tries.

Riley struck first, slicing between Steve Menzies and Rikki Sheriffe on the left flank despite a hint of obstruction, as the visitors caused problems when they opened up.

Then Matt King powered in at the corner despite the best efforts of Menzies to force him into touch, Lee Briers adding the extras.

Undeterred, the Bulls hit back in a fashion that wouldn't have been expected on the basis of their previous week's performance.

Debutant Cain Southernwood had a hand in both scores, showing no fear whatsoever despite his tender years.

The 18-year-old scrum half started the move that led to Heath L'Estrange scoring after the break by Paul Sykes and sparked the second try with another good pass, Chris Nero touching down from Elliott Whitehead's sublime offload. Sykes kicked one conversion to level the scores.

But Warrington responded in kind, David Solomona coming off the bench to hurt his former team with a truly outstanding half-break and offload before Briers scored off the pass from Chris Bridge.

Mickey Higham then scored from dummy half right on the stroke of half-time, Briers improving, yet the Bulls didn't give in.

Menzies pounced to touch down after Riley had made a mess of L'Estrange's chip before Dave Halley scored off the break from Sykes, who converted both.

At level-pegging, the Wolves got going once again.

Riley capitalised on a kind bounce from Briers' kick to score and another try followed two minutes later when Simon Grix made a break after excellent work from Michael Monaghan to send in the supporting Ryan Atkins. Briers converted both.

The Bulls reminded their opposition it wasn't over when Kearney scored after good work from Menzies, Sykes adding the extras.

But another Higham try – a carbon copy of the first – converted by Briers killed the game off with seven minutes remaining.

Bulls: Brett Kearney; Rikki Sheriffe, Steve Menzies, Chris Nero, Dave Halley; Paul Sykes, Cain Southernwood; Nick Scruton, Heath L'Estrange, Glenn Hall, Elliott Whitehead, Mike Worrincy, Wayne Godwin. Interchange: Craig Kopczak, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison, Danny Addy.

Warrington: Chris Riley; Chris Hicks, Chris Bridge, Ryan Atkins, Matt King; Lee Briers, Simon Grix; Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan, Paul Wood, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison. Interchange: David Solomona, Michael Cooper, Garreth Carvell, Mickey Higham.