Pryce is right for rampant Bulls

Salford 0 - Bradford 58

BradfordBulls looked like a side coming back into form as they swept Salford aside in a glorious spell of attacking play that yielded eight tries in 32 minutes either side of the interval.

BradfordBulls looked like a side coming back into form as they swept Salford aside in a glorious spell of attacking play that yielded eight tries in 32 minutes either side of the interval.

After five league defeats and a Challenge Cup exit at Hull, the Bulls' season threatened to end in anti-climax but the manner of this emphatic victory showed that they cannot be discounted in the second half of the campaign.

Paul Deacon led the way with a 26-point haul from three tries and seven goals while 18-year-old Karl Pryce scored his first senior hat-trick. "The magnifying glass was on us after the Hull defeat and we set our stall out to do the best we can in every game till the end of the season," said Bradford coach Brian Noble.

"The reality for us now is Super League and it was our most clinical performance of the year. Karl Pryce's potential was there for all to see."

The visitors never looked back after Leon Pryce, Karl's elder brother by five years, stepped off his right foot and inside the close-range defence for a 29th-minute opener, Karl Pryce and Karl Pratt adding further tries as the Bulls built a 16-0 interval lead.

Deacon went over twice, sandwiched by Karl Pryce's second, Rob Parker burst over and Lesley Vainikolo then collected Deacon's pin-point kick to score just after the hour. The home side, who started the game with the second best defence in the league, conceded further tries to Vainikolo, Karl Pryce and Deacon in the last seven minutes.

"It was embarrassing," said Salford coach Karl Harrison. "We played well for 30 minutes but the power and pace of the Bulls was second to none and some of their skill levels were sensational. When a team gets a roll-on like that it is very hard to stop."

Salford: Hodgson; Stewart, Littler, McGuinness, Bamford; Beverley, Robinson; Rutgerson, Alker, Stringer, Coley, Sibbit, Charles. Substitutes used: Johnson, Highton, Dickens, Jonkers.

Bradford: Reardon; Pratt, Langley, K Pryce, Vainikolo; Harris, Paul; Vagana, Deacon, Fielden, Peacock, Parker, Radford. Substitutes used: L Pryce, Lynch, Smith, Cook.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).