Bulls too strong for Reds

Giant teenager Karl Pryce terrorised the Reds defence with his first hat-trick as Bradford found their scoring touch at the Willows and got past Salford 58-0.

The 6ft 6in, 17st centre, who is still only 18 and in his first full season with the Bulls, displayed exceptional pace and power to take his try tally for the season to 13 in only 14 matches.

Paul Deacon, revelling in his new hooking role, also grabbed a hat-trick and kicked seven conversions for a personal haul of 26 points as Bradford bounced back from the disappointment of their Challenge Cup exit.

They were at their ruthless best as they ripped apart the second-meanest defence in the engage Super League yet it took them 28 minutes to score the first of their 11 tries.

It was Salford who made the better start, even though they could not breach a well-organised Bradford defence.

The Reds had an early chance to open the scoring but Chris Charles was wide with a penalty and gradually the visitors, notoriously slow starters in recent matches, began to get on top.

Barnstorming runs from winger Lesley Vainikolo and prop Joe Vagana wore down Salford?s resistance and the visitors looked to have scored when Robbie Paul dropped Iestyn Harris? pass with the line at his mercy.

The Reds had another let-off when winger Darren Bamford failed to take Deacon?s kick and centre Jamie Langley re-gathered possession and forced his way over the line only to be held up on his back.

As the Bulls maintained the pressure, Leon Pryce, who began the match on the bench, jinked his way over for the game?s first score.

Bradford skipper Jamie Peacock was also held up on the line and it was no surprise when the Bulls extended their lead.

Karl Pryce proved unstoppable from 10 metres out and winger Karl Pratt added a third try just before the break after taking a cut-out pass from Harris to make it 16-0.

Bradford were clearly on a roll and they swept the Reds aside with four more tries in the third quarter, two of them from the impressive Deacon, who skipped past flat-footed defenders to pile on the agony for Salford.

A magnificent run from Vainikolo set up Karl Pryce for his second try - his 12th of the season - and second rower Rob Parker also made the most of some ineffective tackling to cross the line.

The final quarter belonged to Vainikolo, who leapt high to take Deacon?s kick for his 12th try of the season and then knocked defenders flying as he powered over at the corner.

And, as Salford crumbled, Karl Pryce and Deacon both completed their hat-tricks in the last three minutes.

Salford: Hodgson, Stewart, Littler, McGuinness, D. Bamford, Beverley, Robinson, Rutgerson, Alker, Stringer, Coley, Sibbit, Charles. Replacements: Dickens, Johnson, Jonkers, Highton.

Bradford: Reardon, Pratt, Langley, K. Pryce, Vainikolo, I. Harris, Paul, Vagana, Deacon, Fielden, Peacock, Parker, Radford. Replacements: L. Pryce, Lynch, Smith, Cook.

Salford (0) 0.

Bradford (16) 58. Tries: L. Pryce, K. Pryce 3, Pratt, Deacon 3, Parker, Vainikolo 2. Goals: Deacon 7.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham)

Att: 4,102