Bradford end losing run with win over Castleford

Tries: Dean, Wynne, Aekins, Russell, Blake, Scurr Goals: Atkin 4

Tries: Senior, Mpapalangi 2, A Mellor Goals: Weaver 3

Bradford Bulls ended their run of seven straight defeats and deepened the gloom surrounding Castleford Tigers at Odsal Stadium.

Kurt Haggerty's team were boosted by the return of three experienced forwards and they made a big difference as his team dominated from the start against a Castleford team without a head coach, who have now lost six games out of seven since a shock victory over leaders Leeds Rhinos in July.

Bradford took control by half-time with tries from Riley Dean, Connor Wynne, Caleb Aekins, Dan Russell and Waqa Blake as scrum half Chris Atkin ran the show.

Castleford improved in the second half with two tries from Krystian Mapapalangi and a late score Alex Mellor but a try from the excellent Ebon Scurr 12 minutes after the interval kept them at arm's length to move the Bulls level on points with York Knights, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC with one game to play.

Bradford: Aekins; Okunbor, Russell, Blake, Wynne; Dean, Atkin; Sutton, Ackers, Scurr, Gardiner, Steinwede, J. Mellor.

Interchanges: Gill, Peposho, Ruan, Hooley.

Castleford: Laulu-Togagae; Ravalawa, A. Mellor, Mapapalangi, Senior; Asi, Weaver; Dupree, Hood, Lawler, Lane, Greacen, Stimson.

Interchanges: Hall, Brown, Vaalepu, McNamara.