Bradford Bulls...56

Warrington Wolves...24

BRADFORD Bulls showed no post-cup final depression to romp to a deserved victory and end Warrington's winning streak.

A full strength Bulls beat Warrington in a style that the Wolves had shown to dispose of Challenge Cup winners St. Helens in their last Super League game.

The Paul brothers ran the show with expansive play and long early passes giving the back line of Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Lee Gilmour and Leon Pryce a field day.

Vaikona, lining up opposite 19-year-old David Alstead on the wing, was particularly devastating running in a hat-trick of tries.

In stark contrast, Warrington's three-quarters had few opportunities to excel but when the likes of Ian Sibbit and Toa Kohe-Love did have the ball in their hands they were ineffective largely due to a solid Bradford defence.

A 100 per cent kicking display from Henry Paul and Paul Deacon did not make Warrington's task any easier.

A lethargic Warrington defence capitulated completely as the score hit 38-18 and Bradford ran in three tries in the last 10 minutes.

Warrington came up with far too many handling errors and in fairness could not compete with Bradford's much bigger pack, which made constant inroads into the Wolves woeful defence.

However, it was Bradford's creativity and willingness to off-load which put them head and shoulders above.

One man who could hold his head high for Warringtion was Tawera Nikau, returning after a three-match absence.

Nikau put in a hard-working and imaginitive performance and received a warm reception from the noisy Warrington crowd.

Bradford threw everything at Warrington in the opening quarter and exposed a brittle defence.

After Alstead had done well to track back and haul down Vaikona as he headed for the line, Bradford took the lead in their next set of six.

Gilmour steamed on to a well-timed pass from Robbie Paul, who had been supplied by his brother Henry, and Gilmour went through Kohe-Love from close in.

On 10 minutes, after an Alan Hunte dropped ball on the first tackle, the Paul brothers combined again to send full back Withers in with a flat ball from a Bradford scrum on Warrington's 40m line. Hunte, up in the line, was the man who missed Withers.

On 17 minutes Pryce added to an horrendous start for Warrington. After some dare-devil off-loads Robbie Paul ghosted across Warrington's defence and slipped the ball inside for his winger to fly over the whitewash. With Henry Paul converting Bradford's opening three tries Warrington trailed 18-0.

However, Gary Mercer then sparked a mini revival. A long pass from Lee Briers at dummy half saw Allan Langer miss out Andrew Gee to hit Tawera Nikau, who brilliantly off-loaded in the tackle for Mercer to cross over for his first try since returning to the club. Briers added the goal.

Warrington had a good 10-minute spell and should have scored.

David Kidwell was unlucky to have a try disallowed for a double movement but he also spurned a chance with a bad pass.

As the teams were about to go in for half-time Warrington had a cruel blow when Vaikona bust a horrendous attempted tackle by Sibbit to score.

After Naylor drew first blood in the second half with a spectacular team try, Warrington hinted at making a comeback.

Tries from Masella nd Nikau made it 30-18 but then Andrew Gee was sin-binned for fisticuffs with Stuart Fielden and Warrington folded.

Vaikona ran in two more tries to complete his hat-trick and Graham Mackay and Robbie Paul also breezed through a defence which had fallen fast asleep.

Briers got a consolation try with an 80m interception.

DISAPPOINTED COACH

AFTER the Bulls defeat Warrington coach Darryl Van de Velde was a very disappointed man.

He said: "We let in too many soft tries and were flat on our backs.

"We couldn't get any nmomentum and we needed to throw the ball wide to beat Bradford, which we didn't do at all."

Wolves prop Danny Nutley is stopped in his tracks by Joe Vagana at Valley Parade last night.

Back rower Gary Mercer scored his first try for Wolves since returning to the club to leave Warrington 18-6 behind in the first half.Pictures: MIKE BODEN

Injuries - Martin Masella injured his leg scoring a try, crashed into the posts. Went off stariaght after. Probably out for the weekend.

Busby will proabbnly be back at the weekend.

Gee had a head cut but should be okay.