Game

Friday 26 Mar 2010

Kick Off 20:00

REPORT

The Bradford Bulls ground out a hard-fought victory over rock-bottom Harlequins RL - but they were made to work every inch of the way for it.

The visitors led through Chris Melling's 13th-minute score but the Bulls responded immediately as Michael Platt and Brett Kearney edged them in front shortly before the break.

Steve Menzies added a third in the 52nd minute to give the Bulls a little breathing space but a fine breakaway try from Danny Orr which Luke Gale converted set up a tense finish to a low-quality encounter.

However, Matt Orford landed a late penalty and drop-goal to seal Harlequins' seventh defeat from eight games this season.

While much has been made of the Londoners' troubles this season, Bradford have similarly struggled for form - and it showed.

Quins could scarcely escape their own line during the opening exchanges but they gradually gained a foothold on the game and claimed a shock lead in the 13th minute.

A brief period of sustained pressure gave the Londoners field position deep in Bradford territory and a neat short offload from Chad Randall sent Melling scurrying over the line. Orr stepped up to slot the conversion and put his side 6-0 ahead.

The response from Bradford was emphatic as they hit back almost immediately to breach the Harlequins line.

Straight from the restart, a clever kick behind the visiting defence caused panic and hesitancy among the Harlequins players allowed Platt to ground the loose ball.

Although Orford's conversion attempt rebounded off a post, the Bulls continued to probe but found themselves constantly frustrated by their own poor handling and some dogged defending from Quins.

But, three minutes before half-time, Bradford struck in devastating fashion when Platt found Kearney to his left with a fine inside pass and he scampered clear for an easy try which Orford converted.

Bradford again struggled to find any real fluency as the second half progressed but in the 52nd minute they claimed their third try of the evening.

After a fine break from Kearney, loose forward Menzies showed some neat footwork to weave his way through a pack of visiting defenders and Orford added the conversion.

The score seemed decisive as it gave the Bulls a 16-6 advantage but spirited Quins continued to look for openings.

A fine breakaway score from Orr down the right channel gave them hope in the 64th minute and Gale added the extras.

That cut Bradford's lead to four points but a penalty and a drop-goal from Orford put his side home and dry.