Bradford 52 Salford 8: Hape makes life miserable for outplayed Reds

They may have gone into the play-offs on the back of some indifferent league form, but Bradford will not let slip of their Super League title lightly as they aim to profit from Leeds' shock defeat by Warrington.

Instead of facing a trip to Headingley next Saturday the Bulls will instead host the Wolves. Victory would take them to within one game of an Old Trafford return, albeit away at the losers of next Friday's match between St Helens and Hull.

Paul Deacon, who organised the Bulls superbly in midfield, and Shontayne Hape, who collected four tries, were two players in peak form. Deacon set the tone for the Bulls as Salford, making their first appearance in the play-offs, got off to a nightmare start. Deacon's kicks forced the visitors into two goal-line drop-outs inside the opening two minutes and then he hoisted a pinpoint kick for Michael Withers to out-jump Luke Robinson for the opening try.

The game was over five minutes old before Salford had the ball in hand, and they were denied by an outstanding defensive contribution by Lesley Vainikolo, the giant Kiwi racing across from the opposite wing to make an inspirational, try-saving tackle on Aaron Moule by the corner flag, following Malcolm Alker's startling break.

Deacon took full advantage of Vainikolo's heroics, forcing an error out of Robinson with an angled grubber kick, and Brett Ferres capitalised on hesitancy in the Salford defence, kicking ahead and winning the race for the touchdown.

When Hape sliced over on the left from Iestyn Harris's long pass the Bulls, with the aid of three Deacon conversions, held an 18-0 inside as many minutes and the contest was effectively over. To compound Salford's misery the lost their influential half-back, Andrew Dunemann, playing his final game for the club before returning home to Australia, after only 11 minutes after he took a second heavy knock in the tackle.

To their credit Salford dug deep, restricting the Bulls to one try more in the half, Hape crossing after Terry Newton slipped a pass out of the back door. Hape, though, completed his hat-trick within three minutes of the re-start, squeezing over in the corner after Deacon worked the short side. Salford then rewarded their large travelling support with the game's outstanding try, David Hodgson returning Iestyn Harris's deep kick with interest for a scorching 80-metre try that justified his selection in the Super League Dream Team as a low-key encounter faded away.

As the Bulls smoothly went through their moves in readiness for sterner tasks ahead Andy Lynch and Chris McKenna posted further tries, the irrepressible Deacon involved in both build-ups before Iestyn Harris slipped Sam Burgess over and then gave Hape the opportunity to see the Bulls over the 50-mark.

Bradford: Withers; Bai, B Harris, Hape, Vainikolo; I Harris, Deacon; Vagana, Newton, Lynch, McKenna, Meyers, Ferres. Substitutes used: Johnson, Burgess, Henderson, Pryce.

Salford: Fitzpatrick; Hodgson, McGuinness, Moule, Wilshere; Dunemann, Robinson; Coley, Alker, Rutgerson, Finnigan, Littler, Charles. Substitutes used: Highton, Adamson, Haggerty, Brocklehurst.

Referee: A Klein (London).