Bradford 14-22 Harlequins

Harlequins ended a six game winning streak and increased Bradford’s woes with a 22-14 win at Odsal.

Quins season has capitulated in the past two months with an alarming slide that has seen them drop from third place to the fringes of the play-offs.

But they climbed back in to the top eight with this win and all but ended Bradford’s season in the process.

It started well for the Bulls with Semi Tadulala crossing for an early try. But a double-strike on the half hour mark put the visitors in the driving seat.

Matt Gafa crossed first and shortly after Ryan Esders, on loan from Hull KR, doubled his side’s advantage with Danny Orr‘s conversion edging them out to 10-4 at the break.

An anxious home crowd sat through fifteen minutes of scoreless action at the start of the second half, but watched their team draw level when Paul Sykes, playing at stand-off against his former team, went over for a four pointer which was converted by Paul Deacon.

And when Chris Nero crossed just after the hour mark, Bulls were 14-10 up and looking good for their lead.

But David Howell, back in action following suspension, turned the game on its head with two tries in the final quarter, and Orr’s penalty right on the hooter rubbed salt in the wounds for the home side and heaped more pressure on Bulls coach Steve McNamara.