Game

Harlequins vs Bradford Bulls

REPORT

Dave Halley helped himself to a try hat-trick as Bradford Bulls trounced engage Super League play-off hopefuls Harlequins 42-18 at The Stoop.

Just six days after being beaten by Quins at home, the Bulls turned the tables with a seven-try romp against a Quins side who were severely lacking in ideas.

Bradford began the brighter of the teams and a succession of missed tackles by the home side saw the Bulls cruise in for two early tries.

Firstly Chris Nero shrugged off the challenge of Danny Orr to send Halley in unopposed, and seconds later Paul Deacon broke the defensive line for full-back Halley to canter over again.

Stunned into action, the hosts responded when Luke Dorn ran a fine line to allow captain Rob Purdham to drive over, but it proved a brief respite.

The Bulls were enjoying all of the luck, and that was in evidence midway through the half when Deacon's kick through deflected off Orr into the grateful hands of Halley who strolled over for his hat-trick try.

Another was to follow for the visitors as winger Semi Tadulala's crossfield kick was horribly misjudged and missed the onrushing attackers, only for Sam Burgess to be in attendance, pick up the loose ball and rumble over.

The Bulls were to add two further first-half scores, Steve Menzies cruising over after a Tadulala break and Michael Worrincy driving over after Deacon's penalty attempt came back off the post.

With the heat unrelenting, the second half saw a noticeable drop in the tempo, with the hosts' efforts to drag themselves back into the game undone by basic errors and poor decision-making.

It was midway through the half before the visitors added to their lead, Wayne Godwin burrowing over from close range.

Quins skipper Purdham and Will Sharp did cross for tries late on, but it did nothing to affect the outcome.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

Bradford coach Steve McNamara praised his side's lightning start after the Bulls ran in seven tries to demolish Harlequins 42-18 at The Stoop.

The Bradford boss was ecstatic after seeing his side brush off last weekend's defeat to the Londoners.

He said: "We really started strongly and built up a pretty impressive lead."

"We put ourselves on the front foot and we never really looked back."

"We played with far less anxiety and there were many more scoring chances that we did not take advantage of."

"The less said about the second half the better - it was not a great advert for rugby league."

"But by then the game was won and I am happy we did such a professional job."

Harliquins coach Brian McDermott was scathing in his assessment of his side's display.

He said: "We will not make the play-offs if we play like that again, and quite frankly we will not deserve to make the play-offs playing like that."

"I am extremely concerned that we have a group of players who went out there and looked like they had never played together before.

"I am frustrated with myself as much as the players."

"There are questions that need to be asked about everyone at the club - myself included."