Rugby

Adam O'Brian put in a Man of the Match performance as the Bradford Bulls ended a three-match losing streak and signed off their season at Odsal Stadium with a flourish by thumping lowly Crusaders RL by 48 points to 24.

The Bulls’ last win came with their sensational blanking of Huddersfield in July and they had since conceded games to Warrington, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors, but they condemned Crusaders to defeat in their penultimate engage Super League match.

Patrick Ah Van will be given the plaudits after registering 20 points, including a 100% record with the boot, but Ben Jeffries had a hand in several tries to set Mick Potter’s side on their way.

Olivier Elima and Brett Kearney both touched down twice, while there were further scores for Craig Kopczak, Shaun Ainscough, Ah Van and Andy Lynch.

Crusaders had twice pegged back the Bulls with tries from Lloyd White and Stuart Reardon, while there were second-half scores from Peter Lupton, Reardon again and Tony Martin.

Crusaders were looking to get off a fine start as they bid to avoid finishing bottom of the league in their final season, but Jeffries ghosted through the middle of the their line before calmly putting Elima through for the first of his two converted scored.

The visitors levelled proceedings, though, after scrum-half White shrugged off the challenges of a handful of Bradford defenders to touch down.

Crusaders could not press the initiative after Clinton Schifcofske levelled matters with his kick and Elima’s second score handed the initiative back to the Bulls.

Jeffries’ kick was charged down and in the ensuing melee, Bradford claimed possession and spread the ball to the left where Elima took advantage of the stretched defence to cross.

To their credit, Crusaders hit back once more when a flowing passing move along the right ended with Martin cutting the ball inside to the overlapping Reardon to cross.

Schifcofske missed the first conversion of the afternoon and Bradford took full advantage to extend their lead to eight points when Kearney grounded Jeffries’ kick.

Any hopes of Iestyn Harris’ men making a comeback for a third time were dented when substitute Ben Flower was sin-binned for tripping Ainscough.

Kopczak thought he had furthered the Bulls’ advantage but Tom Burgess’ offload to his fellow substitute was deemed to have gone forward.

However, Kopczak would not be denied and after the interval the prop burst over near the right-hand post after latching on to Adam O'Brien’s lay-off.

Bradford were certainly starting to warm to their task as Jeffries and Kyle Briggs combined to leave Ainscough with the simplest of finishes on the right before Ah Van made it five out five with the boot.

The winger then showed a great turn of pace to sprint the length of the field after Crusaders had sloppily spilled the ball, although he was then beaten to the ball in the air by Lupton as Crusaders got on the scoreboard in the second half.

Lynch barged his way over on the last tackle, while Kearney latched on to Kopczak’s grubber for his second of the afternoon in between Reardon’s dive over the whitewash.

Martin ensured Crusaders had the last word when he crashed over on the right and, although Schifcofske registered his second conversion, it was scant consolation.