Betfred Super League
Bradford (26) 32
Tries: Dean, Wynne, Aekins, Russell, Blake, Scurr Goals: Atkin 4
Castleford (4) 22
Tries: Senior, Mpapalangi 2, A Mellor Goals: Weaver 3
Bradford Bulls ended their run of seven straight defeats and deepened the gloom surrounding Castleford Tigers at Odsal Stadium.
The return of three experienced forwards gave Bradford a major boost as they dominated from the start against Castleford, who are without a head coach and have now lost six of their past seven games since beating league leaders Leeds Rhinos in July.
Bradford took control by half-time with tries from Riley Dean, Connor Wynne, Caleb Aekins, Dan Russell and Waqa Blake as scrum-half Chris Atkin ran the show with Louis Senior’s try the only points for Castleford in the first half.
They improved in the second half with two tries from Krystian Mapapalangi and one from Alex Mellor, but Ebon Scurr’s try 12 minutes after the interval was enough to keep Castleford at arm’s length and move Bradford level on points with York Knights, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC with one game to play.
Bradford are intent on avoiding the wooden spoon in their first season back in Super League and they have given themselves a chance, especially as they face second-bottom York Knights in the final game next Thursday.
They were still a player short of naming a 21-man squad but the return of Ryan Sutton, Dan Russell and Phoenix Steinwede added punch to the pack, while Atkin was out to prove a point against his former club.
Joe Mellor sent Dean over for an early opener and Castleford were in defensive disarray as Wynne benefited from Atkin’s floated pass before Aekins hacked a loose ball forward and won the race to touch it down under the posts.
Mapapalangi was a bright spot for Castleford and he sent Louis Senior over for a try, but the ubiquitous Atkin set up both Russell and Blake for tries to end the contest by half-time.
Castleford managed to get on the front foot after the break and Mapapalangi, now over his shoulder injury, introduced an element of doubt with an early try.
Scurr was central to Bradford’s forward dominance and he was rewarded with his first Super League try before Castleford’s Alex Mellor forced his way over at the other end. Mapapalangi scored his second a minute before the final hooter to add some respectability to the scoreline.
Bradford: Aekins; Okunbor, Russell, Blake, Wynne; Dean, Atkin; Sutton, Ackers, Scurr, Gardiner, Steinwede, J. Mellor.
Interchanges: Gill, Peposho, Ruan, Hooley.
Castleford: Laulu-Togagae; Ravalawa, A. Mellor, Mapapalangi, Senior; Asi, Weaver; Dupree, Hood, Lawler, Lane, Greacen, Stimson.
Interchanges: Hall, Brown, Vaalepu, McNamara.
Referee: Matty Lynn.