Bulls 19, Harlequins 12

The Bulls might soon need to take tips from Houdini on how to escape their shackles.

On recent evidence, defence is no longer such an area of concern, but Bradford have not proved particularly adept at picking locks.

After watching his side score a total of 14 points in their previous two games, head coach Steve McNamara took drastic action in a bid to free his side from their restraints. It almost worked.

Although there were signs of added flair and fluidity in their game, they still made hard work of unlocking a stubborn Quins defence - one that belied their position at the bottom of Super League.

But McNamara’s tinkering paid off in that most of the Bulls’ positive attacking play involved Brett Kearney.

Moved to full back, where he played three years for Cronulla, the Aussie speedster provided creativity with his running lines and impressive footwork.

His lead is one the rest of the Bulls would do well to follow and, on this evidence, Dave Halley has a tough task to win back his place in the side.

With Kearney the spark, on another night, the scoreline would have been far more comfortable. In fact, it was hard to believe they hadn't put the game to bed by the end of the third quarter but, in the circumstances, merely picking up the two points was sufficient reward - the rest will come in time.

Bradford had started with the bit firmly between their teeth. After Chris Melling knocked on 30 metres from his own line, the Bulls charged on with purpose, Andy Lynch coming within inches of the opening try.

Will Sharp was tackled into touch after collecting a grubber from Paul Sykes and although Quins manfully defended repeat sets on their own line, it did not look like they were going to escape their own half.

But a knock-on from Rikki Sheriffe and a couple of soft-looking penalties actually gave them the platform from which to gain early reward. They did exactly that, albeit with a huge helping hand from the officials.

Chad Randall’s pass to Chris Melling was a good yard forward – the press saw it, the fans saw it and the players saw it – but most importantly, the officials didn’t and the Quins second-rower burst through to score. Danny Orr converted to leave the shocked Bulls 6-0 down.

The hosts had every right to feel more than a little hard done by but if they did, they certainly didn’t show it.

There was no sulking, no loss of concentration, instead they responded with a superb restart and an even better kick chase.

Quins fumbled and the ball was hacked on, allowing Michael Platt to capitalise on a flat-footed defence to dive on the loose ball, although Matt Orford’s missed conversion left them still trailing.

But the Bulls laboured to create anything else for much of the first half, an incisive angled run from Kearney the best bit of attacking play they mustered. Unfortunately, the Aussie was halted five metres short.

Often inaccurate but sometimes impressive with the ball, Quins almost caught Bradford cold on the half-hour mark with a break sparked by a smart offload from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Randall and Luke Gale broke clear and a swift interchange of passes looked to have got them home and dry until Matt Orford recovered to tackle Randall, the ball falling loose just metres from the goal-line.

The relief of that near escape was tempered somewhat by the sight of Lynch limping gingerly off the field three minutes later but the Bulls once more turned adversity into triumph.

Their best attacking move of the half saw Steve Menzies release Platt down the right and the fit-again centre stepped on the gas before sending Kearney clear with a well-timed inside ball. It was worth a try for Kearney’s excellent support play alone, something the Bulls have been lacking of late.

Orford added the extras but, despite enjoying more of the ball, Bradford could not add to their lead before half-time, although they started the second period in the ascendancy.

A sublime offload from Kearney out of the tackle threatened to send Sykes streaking clear before Platt was tackled into touch as he looked for space out wide.

A quickly-taken penalty from Wayne Godwin also created half a chance as he burst downfield but the door was slammed shut just as Jamie Langley's show and go looked to have left it hanging open.

Disappointment soon turned to delight though when an attractive piece of play saw three of Bradford’s Australian connection combine with devastating effect.

Orford threaded a pass to Kearney, who burst into space and found Menzies on an angled run round the back to score, Orford improving.

Buoyed by that score, a sensational piece of play should have put the result beyond doubt towards the end of the third quarter. It certainly deserved to be rewarded.

The spark was Sykes’ offload, the stand-off somehow managing to smuggle the ball out of a tackle to release Kearney.

Showing pace to weave through space and strength to hold off potential tacklers, he made it to the opposition 40 before finding Orford.

An excellent tackle bust and offload from James Donaldson continued the flowing move but, when there was no route through for Heath L’Estrange, his pass was dropped by Langley.

Despite the amount of pressure and possession enjoyed by the Bulls, they were caught out in spectacular fashion to keep the game close entering the final stages.

Orford’s pass was telegraphed by Orr and he dashed almost 60 metres to score before handing kicking duties to Luke Gale, the youngster obliging to add the further two points.

With the result in doubt, the extent of the Bulls’ nervousness was shown when they opted to kick for goal after being awarded a penalty close to the sticks nine minutes from time.

Orford coolly slotted the two points but the attacking platform appeared as if it would offer more reward – at least it would have done with a touch more composure and incision.

With time running down, Orford then kicked a drop goal to seal an extremely hard-fought win, before L’Estrange had a try ruled out with virtually the last play of the game to deny the hosts a final flourish.