Paul deputies shine for Bradford

The Paul brothers were not missed by Bradford

Bradford 44 - 4 Castleford

Bradford Bulls shrugged off the absence of the inspirational Paul brothers to consolidate their position at the top of Super League.

Henry and Robbie Paul are still making their way back from Friday's trans-Tasman Test in Wellington but youngsters Leon Pryce and Paul Deacon deputised superbly.

Teenager Pryce, tipped as a future Great Britain stand-off, scored one of Bradford's seven tries and set up another for scrum-half Deacon.

The 22-year-old Deacon demonstrated precision marksmanship by kicking eight goals from as many attempts.

Brilliant

But the star of the show was Australian Michael Withers, who continues to revel in the full-back spot vacated by Stuart Spruce.

Withers, a constant danger with his probing runs from deep, scored the Bulls' first try.

He also set up another for hooker James Lowes as Bradford blitzed the Tigers with a 24-point burst in 15 minutes midway through the first half.

Withers, Bradford's leading tryscorer, took his tally for the season to 19, of which 11 have come since his switch from centre three months ago.

Castleford, without four regulars including stand-off Danny Orr, had started brightly and took the lead with a 12th-minute try from second rower Dale Fritz.

Michael Withers in superb form for Bradford

But once the home side began to adjust to their new half-back combination of Price and Deacon, there was only one winner.

After Withers had made the initial breakthrough, Lowes demonstrated superb support play to grab two tries in seven minutes and then Pryce jinked his way over.

Deacon kicked all four conversions and put over a penalty to make it 26-4 at half-time.

He then supported a fine break by Pryce to claim try number five.

Centre Scott Naylor piled on the misery for the Tigers with two second-half touchdowns but the visitors never gave up.

Scrum-half Mark Lennon worked tirelessly behind a beaten pack but Castleford failed to breach the best defence in Super League a second time.

After the match, a delighted Bradford coach Brian Noble said: "I see Leon as a centre or stand-off.

"We've got to start moving him infield because he is too dangerous a ball carrier. He just needs to add the physical bits.

"It shows we've got quality strength in depth. Pryce and Deacon are very much part of this club for the foreseeable future."

---

Bradford: Withers, Vaikona, Naylor, Rigon, McAvoy, Pryce, Deacon, Vagana, Lowes, McDermott, Gartner, Peacock, Forshaw. Replacements: Gilmour, Radford, Anderson, Fielden.

Castleford: Flowers, Gay, Wells, Roper, Pryce, Healey, Lennon, Sykes, Shaw, Sampson, Harland, Fritz, Vowles. Replacements: Goddard, Lynch, Godwin, Smith.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)