Wolves overpower Bulls
A superb first-half display laid the platform for the Warrington Wolves, who ran out 50-22 winners over the Bradford Bulls.
Last Updated: 29/07/12 5:29pm
A superb first-half display laid the platform for the Warrington Wolves, who ran out 50-22 winners over the Bradford Bulls.
The Wolves claimed six tries in the opening 40 minutes, including four in a scintillating 10-minute spell, as they built up a 32-6 half-time advantage.
Stefan Ratchford scored four tries in the game while Joel Monaghan, Richie Myler, Chris Riley and Simon Grix all touched down along with David Solomona.
Danny Addy claimed two tries for the Bulls in defeat with Elliott Whitehead and Karl Pryce also touching down and Luke Gale landing three goals.
The victory keeps Tony Smith's men hot on the heels of Super League leaders Wigan, while the Bulls face a struggle to make the play-off places following their six-point deduction.
The Challenge Cup finalists immediately stamped their authority on the game with a try inside the opening minute.
Opening try
Ben Harrison, Briers and Rhys Evans all handled before sending winger Monaghan over in the corner for the opening try of the game.
The Wolves were applying all the early pressure and they took full control of the game with four tries in a brilliant 10-minute spell.
A long Briers pass allowed Myler to claim the second try of the game and that was quickly followed two minutes later when the Bulls failed to deal with a huge Briers bomb and Riley was on hand to scoop up the loose ball and score.
The Wolves then went the length of the field for a stunning score as Ben Westwood released Ratchford deep inside his own half, with Myler then carrying on the move and returning the ball to Ratchford for a superb try.
In the 22nd minute Warrington claimed their fifth try of the half when Myler sent Grix over and with Briers landing four conversions from five attempts the Wolves were in total command at 28-0.
More quality passing between Briers, Myler and Tyrone McCarthy allowed Ratchford to claim his second try of the game to stretch the lead further.
The Bulls had the final say of the half though when, in one of their rare forays into Warrington territory, they claimed a try through Addy which Gale converted to reduce the deficit to 32-6 at half time.
Comeback
The Bulls gave themselves some hope of a remarkable comeback as they grabbed two tries within eight minutes of the restart.
Firstly, Addy plunged over from acting half back to claim his second try of the game and then Craig Kopczak's midfield break was supported by Whitehead who raced clear to score.
Gale added one conversion to reduce Warrington's lead to 32-16.
A close range try from Solomona steadied the Warrington ship though and then Myler's midfield break allowed Ratchford to race clear for his hat-trick try on 63 minutes.
Ratchford made it a personal haul of four tries five minutes later when he took Adrian Morley's pass to touch down and complete a superb individual display.
Bradford did have the final word though when Pryce collected Gale's kick to touch down for a consolation try late on.
