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Rugby League

Tadulala grabs hat-trick as ruthless Bulls slay Dragons

11/05/2008

Semi Tadulala scored a hat-trick as Bradford Bulls beat Catalan Dragons 46-16 to reach the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup at Odsal.

The Bulls capitalised on Clint Greenshields' sin-binning to score four times in ten minutes through Sam Burgess, Dave Halley,and a brace from Tadulala.

Chris Nero extended the home side's lead before Greenshields, Dimitri Pelo and Julien Touxagas touched down for the Dragons.

But Bradford secured victory when Shontayne Hape and Jamie Langley crashed over before Tadulala completed his hat-trick.

The Dragons will rue the sin-binning of fullback Greenshields in the fifth minute for holding down Michael Platt.

In his absence, Tadulala opened the floodgates with a solo effort. Sam Burgess and Dave Halley crossed the line after sweeping moves by the Bulls before Tadulala scored his second.

Paul Deacon was on target with all four conversion attempts to leave last year's finalists 24-0 behind by the time Greenshields returned to the field.

The 26-year-old Australian made amends by scoring his side's opening try when he bulldozed over the line.

But that was quickly cancelled out when Deacon sent Chris Nero clear for Bradford's fifth shortly before the break.

Langley scored the Bulls' sixth after diving over from close range with Deacon slotting over the extras.

Seven minutes later, Wayne Godwin's pass sent Shontayne Hape into the corner for another try.

The Dragons reduced their deficit on the hour mark when Greenshields sent Dimitri Pelo clear to touch down, with Thomas Bosc converting.

With 12 minutes left, Julien Touxagas punished a gaping hole in the Bulls' defence to crash over for his side's third try.

But the Bulls had the last say when David Solomona's misplaced pass fell to Tadulala, with the Fijian winger strolling over the line to complete his hat-trick.