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Bradford Bulls ended an impressive month by storming into the Challenge Cup 5 th round with a record display against Toulouse . The hapless French side were obliterated by a Bulls side who seemed invigorated by a recent return to form, and no fewer than three different players registered hat-tricks at the Grattan Stadium. Glenn Morrison and rapidly-improving winger Semi Tadulala scored three tries each and of the match Dave Halley even crossed over for a fourth in what was an entirely one-sided display compounded by Iestyn Harris' incredible 15 goals from 17 attempts. This tally broke Joe Phillips and Henry Paul's total of most kicks in a game as the West Yorkshire side just fell short of the magic 100 mark, triumphing 98-6. The next round will see Bradford face off against another French side, Catalans Dragons, who will surely be apprehensive about their May visit to Odsal.
After being gored by the Leeds Rhinos on 20 th March, Bradford bounced back four days later with a determined home victory against Harlequins. A solid first half effort reaped five tries for the Bulls, and Paul Deacon's customary pin-point goal-kicking gave them an ultimately unassailable 30-12 half time lead. The visitors mounted a spirited fight back in the second half as Worrincy crossed twice, but the defence held firm and ensured a morale-boosting 32-24 triumph.
Back to back wins were sealed the following week with a routine victory over basement boys Castleford. A Tigers side weakened by injury would not have relished a visit to Grattan Stadium, and the Bulls proceeded to send them home with little to cheer. Semi Tadulala grabbed his first hat-trick for Bradford en route to a 50-4 win which saw also saw Evans, Sykes, Hape, Jeffries, Godwin and Nero score in a nine-try haul.
Second place in the Super League table was the spur on 4 th April when Bradford travelled to Hull 's KC Stadium to take on the black and whites. The first of two visits to Hull in consecutive weeks was a successful one for Steve McNamara's team, but the 24-8 score line did not reflect what was an incredibly tight game. Hull controlled the first half for long periods but Chris Nero's try on the stroke of half time sent the teams in tied at 6-6, before two tries in the space of five second half minutes gave the Bulls the initiative. A last-gasp Burgess try then sealed the win and the points and moved the Bulls behind only Leeds in the table.
Hopes of a fourth consecutive victory were dashed at Craven Park as Hull KR managed to grind out a narrow 20-18 win. The home side were good value in a first half that saw some crunching tackles from both sets of forwards, and the Bulls faced a 14-6 deficit going into the second period. A series of missed chances then left Bradford with little time to improve the score line, and gave Hull decisive penalties that would ultimately be the difference between the teams. Late scores from Sykes and one from Solomona on the stroke of full time took the visitors to within two points but it was too late to salvage a result.
James McCann ©.
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