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Rugby League

Bradford avoid Catalan playoff trip

07/09/2008

Bradford Bulls scored a last minute penalty to beat Castleford in Super League thereby avoiding a trip to Catalan Dragons in the playoffs.

The Bulls' win and Warrington's loss to Huddersfield means the Wolves will now travel to France.

Bradford beat Castleford 18-16 at the Jungle but the bottom-placed side in Super League put up a brave fight.

Semi Tadulala gave Bradford the lead but tries from Richard Owen and Kirk Dixon plus a Dixon penalty put the Tigers in front.

Just before the break Tadulala scored his second try to level the scores at 10-10 but Castleford were soon ahead again when Ryan Boyle crossed the whitewash.

The Bulls were grateful to Tadulala when he scored his hat-trick with ten minutes remaining. Iestyn Harris came off the bench to level the scores again with the conversion.

Finally, in the closing minutes the Welshman notched a difficult penalty to hand Bradford the win.

The Bulls will now travel to Wigan in the first round of the playoffs on Friday.

Warrington will face the Catalans after losing 38-20 to Huddersfield. Giants Full-back Chris Thorman was the chief architect of the Wolves downfall, scoring a try and kicking a further 14 points.

Huddersfield scored two tries in the first six minutes when Thorman and Stephen Wild touched down and that proved to be the difference between the sides as the Giants out-scored the Wolves by six tries to four.