Halley heroics can't save Bulls

The full back made two try-saving tackles and another crucial one in midfield to end a Castleford breakaway.

The Welsh international, who has now nailed his colours to England’s mast, was equally effective on attack when the Bulls needed him most.

Already with one try under his belt, he collected the ball near his own line when his team were trailing 40-34 with seconds to go and set up Ben Jeffries for the 14th try of an afternoon that was entertaining and puzzling in equal measure.

The stand-off planted the ball down a few metres in from the right touchline but Paul Deacon’s conversion attempt drifted just wide of the far upright, allowing the Tigers to complete a Super League double.

The Tigers surrendered leads of 12-4 and 34-22 at various stages of what was a scrappy encounter, while the Bulls had been 22-12 in front at half-time.

Both sides scored seven tries but Dean Widders’ remarkable 80-metre interception score from Terry Newton’s pass with seven minutes remaining ultimately proved decisive, despite almost being caught by a game Nick Scruton.

The reliable Joe Westerman landed six goals for the visitors.

Castleford first went ahead after Semi Tadulala lost a Rangi Chase kick under pressure and Michael Shenton pounced.

Tadulala soon made amends after a Castleford mistake at the restart, Jordan Thompson putting a foot on the sideline from Deacon’s high and swirling kick, allowing the Bulls to go straight back on the attack.

Fiji winger Tadulala was on hand to finish in the corner from Halley’s pass but, tellingly as it later turned out, Deacon’s conversion attempt bounced out off the near upright.

A good break by the in-form Chris Nero moments later almost created a chance for Newton to give the Bulls the lead but a better option than the inside pass to the hooker might have been an outside pass to left winger Tadulala.

The Tigers responded strongly, with a short Ryan McGoldrick pass putting the influential Chase strolling over by the posts.

Westerman’s second conversion gave the visitors a 12-4 lead but Bradford hit back with three more tries to take a ten-point lead into the break.

Halley claimed the first of them from a Deacon pass after another Tigers error at a restart offered the Bulls a way back into the game.

McGoldrick had spilt Deacon’s kick and then Halley’s injection of pace gave the Bulls something when their attack looked far too static, which caused frustration among the Bulls faithful.

Newton put Scruton over for his first Bulls try in what was his 19th appearance and Halley was denied a second when another Newton pass was ruled forward as the hooker looked to add to his tally of assists.

Then Halley showed his defensive qualities to keep out opposing full back Richard Owen, before Westerman lost the ball near the Bulls line.

The Bulls finished the first half with a flourish that was loudly appreciated by the home fans.

Jeffries found a gap in the Tigers defence after throwing a beautiful dummy and Michael Worrincy completed the attack by outpacing Shenton and Kirk Netherton to the line when it looked like he might be caught; a superb try.

However, Bradford surrendered their position of dominance in remarkable fashion by conceding four tries within the opening 13 minutes of the second half, bettering the three they had let in to lose a match they should have won at The Jungle earlier this season.

The first try was almost a carbon copy of the opener as Tadulala missed a Chase kick while under severe pressure and Shenton this time set up youngster Thompson, who was making his first start for the visitors.

Tadulala missed a tackle in Castleford’s next attack and Shenton cut inside for his second in what was the most obvious example of the Bulls’ weak defence.

It was tough luck on Halley, who had missed Netherton but caught him seconds later down Bradford’s right wing.

A brilliant Halley tackle then denied Mike Wainwright but the Tigers were not kept out for long as Chase sold Deacon a dummy to cross for his second try.

The capitulation continued as McGoldrick sent Westerman on his way to the line with a clever pass as the Tigers continued to offload at will.

The momentum shifted back in Bradford’s favour as Deacon set up Sam Burgess with a fierce pass, before Jeffries went over from a Newton pass to level the scores at 34-34.

Ironically, they were then effectively reduced to 14 men, with a groggy Deacon hanging back in midfield after receiving treatment following a blow when trying to pull off a tackle in centre-field.

Widders put Cas back in front by picking off a Newton pass and sprinting some 80 metres to the Bulls line.

Burgess collected Deacon’s short kick-off, James Donaldson came on for his Bulls debut in the 76th minute as a replacement for Worrincy and there was still time for one last twist as man-of-the-match Halley’s break set up Jeffries but Deacon was narrowly unable to add the goal.

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