Bulls run riot in Perpignan
Bradford maintained their perfect Super League record on French soil with a 36-14 victory over Catalans Dragons.
Last Updated: 10/04/10 8:09pm
Bradford maintained their perfect Super League record on French soil with an impressive 36-14 victory over Catalans Dragons.
Rikki Sheriffe grabbed a hat-trick of tries as the in-form Bulls ran riot at Stade Aime Giral to lift themselves up to fifth place in the table.
Les Catalans did cross the line three times themselves but never threatened to inflict a first defeat on their opponents in Perpignan.
To make matters worse for the Dragons they lost Chris Walker to injury, the Australian forced off against the team he claimed had reneged on a deal to sign him during the winter months.
Landmark
The home team fell behind after just five minutes, Andy Lynch taking Heath L'Estange's pass to barge his way over and reach 200 points in his career.
Matt Orford kicked the conversion and also added a penalty before Bradford crossed the line for a second time, L'Estrange again the architect when his kick was gathered up by fellow Australian Brett Kearney.
Les Catalans did threaten to fight back in front of their vociferous supporters when Frederic Vaccari squeezed over at the corner before going into touch.
A second Dragons try looked a certainty when Walker broke free but his offload only went into space, and to add injury to insult he was forced off soon after.
Sheriffe's first of the night, which was converted by scrum-half Orford, pushed Bradford into a commanding 20-4 lead at the interval.
Roaring back
Just as they had done in their Easter Monday defeat to the Leeds Rhinos, the Dragons came out roaring after the break, scoring a superb team try that was finished off by Steve Bell.
When Orford was ordered to the sin-bin, the hosts suddenly had a man extra and a glorious chance to take a firm grip on proceedings.
Instead they frittered away possession with needless offloads, one such example by Jean Philippe Baile leading to Menzies scoring for the Bulls.
Although Gregory Mounis did respond by twisting out of a tackle to touch down, it was too little too late, as the returning Orford kicked a late penalty before Bradford managed a further two tries in the closing minutes.
Winger Sheriffe got them both to complete his treble, Menzies the creator on each occasion, rounding off a superb away day for Steve McNamara's side.