Martyn shows form that can trouble Bulls

Bradford and St Helens showed why they are the top two sides in the Super League this season by recording routine victories over lesser lights in the latest round of matches to set up a showdown at Valley Parade later this week which will go a long way to determining who wins the title.

The Bulls hold the advantage after maintaining their two-point lead at the top with a 25-8 win at Halifax, but the Saints kept up the pressure with a convincing 34-2 defeat of struggling Wakefield, overcoming the adverse weather conditions by employing a successful kicking game in which Tommy Martyn was the central figure.

The Saints stand-off scored two tries and created two of his side's other four at Knowsley Road, and coach Ian Millward was understandably impressed. "I thought Tommy was outstanding. When he retires he'll probably have to play touch football to keep him going. He kicked well and scored two very good tries. It's a shame that he never played for Britain. It's one of the great mysteries."

Mike Bennett set Saints on the way before Sean Hoppe, Anthony Stewart and Martin Gleeson also crossed. Wakefield had just one Ian Knott penalty to show for their efforts and are now just one point above bottom side Salford, whom they face in a relegation battle next week."

Martyn is likely to play opposite Bradford's Leon Pryce next week, after the Bulls back engineered Halifax's downfall on Friday night. Pryce, who first sprung to prominence on the wing, has had less to cheer about since moving to a more preferred position in the centre, but he made up for that at The Shay.

Pryce scored one try with a clever dummy and and laid on two more for Scott Naylor as the Bulls came from behind to win a sixth game in succession.

The Bradford assistant coach, Darrell Shelford, said: "Leon is getting better and the more he plays at No 6 the better he will become. It is all about taking every opportunity that comes your way and making a statement. Leon showed that he is capable of playing there and staying there."

Halifax had opened the scoring, with Colum Halpenny crossing for a try, but the Bulls responded with Nathan McAvoy also grabbing a try. Paul Deacon kicked four goals and a drop goal.

Steve Linnane, the Blue Sox coach, remained upbeat despite the defeat being his side's eighth in nine matches. "There is nothing we can do but win some games because we can't control what the others do. With an ounce of luck we could have won but it didn't happen," he said.