Catalans Dragons 20, Bulls 28

The reaction of an ecstatic bench when James Evans finally clinched victory signalled just how much this courageous win meant to the Bulls.

In a rare show of emotion, Steve McNamara and his coaching colleagues celebrated royally as the Australian centre dived over. Rightly so.

Gutsy Bradford had spent most of the second half resolutely defending their own line as a Catalans side, growing in confidence, sensed another major scalp.

Leeds, Huddersfield and Warrington had all fallen at the intimidating Gilbert Brutus Stadium but McNamara's gallant men refused to add their name to that list. They heroically held on at 24-20 for the last nerve-shredding 12 minutes until Evans eventually sealed the points.

Catalans, who won at Odsal in March, proved again that they are a genuine force and many sides would have buckled under the sheer pressure they launched.

In one of the most physical - at times brutal - clashes of the year, no quarter was given by either team.

But Bradford produced a display full of spirit, endeavour and sheer determination to deny their hosts and it was a performance rich in character.

Stellar performances were spread all over the park from the awesome Joe Vagana and his huge hole-punching to the ceaseless attacking forays of Chris McKenna and the tireless defensive work of an indefatigable Glenn Morrison.

Ian Henderson buzzed around all night, causing mayhem for Catalans, Terry Newton imprinted his class at crucial times but the display of Marcus St Hilaire perhaps encapsulated what the triumph was all about.

Switched to his favoured full back position after Michael Platt was ruled out with a knee injury, the 30-year-old delivered a brilliant 80 minutes, expertly defusing bombs, bravely copping high shots galore as he continually brought the ball back and proving a stubborn last line of defence.

The match was played out in freakish conditions, powerful winds gusting through the stadium which caused havoc for both sides.

Bradford's preparations were also hit when they lost Nathan McAvoy in the warm-up and they quickly fell behind despite having the conditions in their favour.

Cyril Gossard, Thomas Bosc and John Wilson all bagged tries to stun the visitors early on, Bradford's only response being Vagana's blistering effort on seven minutes.

Ben Harris slipped up for the first, making a mess of Stacey Jones' kick to gift Gossard a score, and then Casey McGuire's long pass had Bradford stretched and found Bosc at the corner.

Wilson completed the treble blast after Adam Mogg had picked his way too easily through the Bulls defence but McNamara's side quickly shaped up to take control.

"They were tremendously tough conditions - really, really dreadful," McNamara said.

"With the wind at our back, we conceded three tries and I thought it was going to come back and bite us on the backside.

"But we showed tremendous spirit and a lot of smartness in the second half to come away with a win.

"We'd lost Nathan in the warm-up and Iestyn Harris also hurt his hamstring in the warm-up so we were under a bit of pressure from the start but I take my hat off to the boys; not many sides will come here and win."

Vagana, who destroyed Catalans with some massive surges, slammed Gregory Mounis in one huge tackle.

Then the veteran Kiwi went on the offensive, bumping off home enforcer Alex Chan to storm through the middle. Deacon was on his shoulder and the skipper, with St Hilaire and Harris on each side, cheekily dummied Clint Greenshields to cruise over.

St Hilaire fashioned an opportunity for Lesley Vainikolo to continue his rich vein of form and put the visitors ahead.

The Tongan claimed his ninth try in the last six games, and Paul Deacon finished off great work by Vagana to put them 18-14 in front.

McNamara admitted: "I thought Joe Vagana was massive for us up front.

"Lynchy's there or there abouts all the time but Joe really stood up this week. He made some punishing runs, scored a try and laid that one up for Paul as well."

Soon after, Ben Harris teamed up with Morrison to nail Lionel Teixido with a crunching tackle off the back of a scrum, forcing their opponent to cough up possession 20 metres from his own line.

Every Bulls player came up to congratulate the duo, a sign of the camaraderie and spirit that would see them through the arduous second half to come.

Deacon took the two points when Henderson got clobbered with another high tackle to put Bradford 20-14 up at the break but the Dragons dominated after the re-start.

McNamara said: "We changed our tactics against that wind.

"We just ran out of dummy half. It was the simplest thing; just run, run, run and then defend."

Trying to gain any field position with their kicking game was almost futile such was the strength of the wind in their faces and it was inevitable that Catalans would take a grip.

First, though, the Bulls got an all-important score, Newton backing up Evans' break on 52 minutes to put some daylight between them and they needed it.

With halves Jones and McGuire increasingly influential, Catalans had enough chances to win the game.

But Greenshields twice spilled with the line at his mercy and Wilson also bombed a glorious opportunity as Bradford's defenders muscled up again.

They scrambled furiously, pulling off tackle after tackle to protect their lead amid a truly partisan atmosphere.

Matt James hauled Jerome Guisset down with one desperate try-saver and then Morrison just got back to halt Mogg after Justin Murphy intercepted Newton's pass.

McGuire did finally breakthrough, scything past Craig Kopczak for Bosc to convert and set up a grandstand finish.

Catalans thought they had levelled it with two minutes to go when McGuire crossed again.

But the video referee ruled Murphy had a foot in touch before making the final pass.

Earlier, Catalans could also have had a score when they picked up a loose ball and touched down.

But, to the disgust of Catalans coach Mick Potter, referee Phil Bentham had already awarded them a penalty, declining to play the advantage.

Evans made sure of the win with just 20 seconds to go when he got on the end of another classy McKenna break and, finally, everyone could breathe easy again. Cue the celebrations.