Henry in the mood

Kiwi master Henry Paul lit up an otherwise low key Odsal last night which proved little we didn't already know.

The classy stand-off emerged from the quietest spell of his Odsal career by notching a 24-point haul. His eight-goal tally enabled him to set a new Super League record for goals in a season, overtaking Iestyn Harris's haul of 129 for Leeds last season.

But as impressive as his eight shots from nine attempts were it was the quality of his running and handling which will really delight Bulls fans and coaching staff alike.

During the side's recent dip in form he was sometimes too eager to hand the ball to others and assistant coach Brian Noble was delighted to see the old attacking spark back.

"Henry is starting to take the line on again and when he does that he is a completely different player," Noble said.

"He's very exciting when he does that and his performances in the last two games have been a big plus for the club as a whole."

He set the ball rolling when he left two Giants grounded with his characteristic shimmy in only the second minute and was at the hub of most of the Bulls' best attacking moments.

It was fitting that he should provide the game's real highlight, rounding off a scything run from Stuart Spruce with an impudent, twisting finish which reduced Fijian full-back Waisale Sovatabua to a crumpled heap.

His partnership with Paul Dea-con also produced more good moments, including a darting 30-metre first-half finish from the young scrum half, but despite a promising start the display fell away badly again after the break.

Most worrying was the way the side continued to try to batter down the Giants door in the second half when the forward battle had already been won.

It certainly left some question marks hanging over the side but only more formidable challenges waiting around the corner will really provide the answers.

The Bulls could and should have won by a far greater margin against a side with only three wins under their belt all season and lacking several senior players.

Several chances went begging, including one which will haunt Tevita Vaikona for some time as he went for the line himself after a good raid, denying Nathan McAvoy what would have been a simple run-in.

But you get the feeling the players feel they have little to prove in such encounters and they'll relish a testing run-in starting with that Wigan showdown next Sunday.

Sunday. Such loose play then will cost them dear.

But the Giants, despite some good handling at times, were never a serious threat and with that always in their minds the Bulls' lapses in concentration were quite understandable considering what's to come.

Some things don't change, though, particularly the wholehearted effort of prop Brian McDermott who helped himself to two tries, including a first half effort to beat Spruce to Jimmy Lowes' clever grubber kick.

Michael Withers and David Boyle also produced some good moments to show they are gradually finding their feet again after frustrating absences.

Withers appeared to be somewhat unlucky to have an early effort disallowed but made no mistake later in the half when he showed his finishing quality direct from a scrum move.

Vaikona atoned for his error with a neat finish after the break while Jamie Peacock got back on the scoring scene too with another determined plunge.

Spruce was rewarded for another willing contribution from the back with his sixth try in as many games although it was hardly a classic as Peacock's pass bounced back off a Giants defender straight into the full back's path.

Several lapses in defence were eagerly seized upon by the Giants who were superbly served by talented stand-off Chris Thorman and prop Steve Molloy, but it would be wrong to read too much into this instantly forgettable game.

The Bulls relish high-intensity competition and they can now look ahead to getting just that courtesy of Wigan, Halifax, Leeds and Hull.