Rugby

Hull KR kept their engage Super League play-off hopes alive and all but ended Bradfords chances with 34 points to 8 victory over the Bulls at Odsal Stadium.

Three Rovers tries in the 10 minutes either side of half-time effectively sealed an away win that leaves them just a point behind city rivals Hull FC outside the top eight.

Bulls headcoach, Mick Potter, had billed the match as do-or-die and his side initially responded impressively as Marc Herbert's opening try helped them forge 8-0 ahead.

But tries from Ben Galea, Scott Murrell and Peter Fox around the interval sucked the life out of the Bulls' challenge, and their season.

Josh Hodgson, top tryscorer Kris Welham and Blake Green added further scores in the final exchanges to seal the win.

Bradford's night was soured further with Elliott Whitehead put on report after allegedly biting Rovers substitute Jordan Cox.

The hosts had been boosted by the returns of Ian Sibbit and Jamie Langley after injury lay-offs.

Justine Morgan selected loose forward Liam Watts for the first time since his club suspension at the start of July while full-back Shaun Briscoe also returned from a wrist complaint.

Briscoe endured a torrid beginning, though, and he spilled an early high kick from Herbert before recovering in his goal area.

It almost proved costly as from the next phase Whitehead thought he had gone over only for the video referee to rule he lost the ball.

A routine Patrick Ah Van penalty then opened the scoring before Briscoe's problems continued as he lost the ball in a tackle 20 yards from his own line.

The 28-year-old made amends when he mopped up a clever kick through by Herbert on his own line, but the Rovers defence looked shaky and it was no surprise when they conceded the opening try on 17 minutes.

Michael Platt ran through a gaping hole inside his own 40-yard line to put pass out to Herbert who in turn raced clear to score.

Ah Van converted to make it 8-0 and the momentum was with the home side who matched their attacking threat with some bruising defence.

The impressive Whitehead left Michael Dobson gasping for air after a crunching tackle, but it was the Rovers playmaker who masterminded a turnaround just before the break.

The 28-year-old held his pass perfectly to set Galea galloping over from 15 yards and his side into the break only 8-6 behind.

Bradford's dominance had deserved more but in five minutes after the interval all their good work was completely undone as Rovers twice went over.

With just 90 seconds played Green cut open the defence before his inside pass sent Murrell over.

Moments later the visitors raced the length of the field to score as Welham kicked on a loose ball before running onto it and handing off to the quicker Fox to touch down under the posts.

Suddenly Bradford's season was slipping from their grasp and their bid to claw back the deficit was undermined by some ponderous attacking that allowed Rovers to set their defence.

Rovers had a try disallowed when Dobson ran onto a loose kick, but the game was all but up when Hodgson ran onto his own grubber kick.

Welham added further gloss to the Rovers success with his 22nd try of the campaign before Green strolled over to complete a run of 34 unanswered points.