Warrington Wolves 20 Bradford Bulls 36

Wolves laid the platform for success despite the absence of four internationals, with Martin Gleeson and Vinnie Anderson joining Adrian Morley and Chris Bridge on the sidelines.

Losing winger Richie Barnett two minutes into the second period with a torn ankle ligament was a further blow but perhaps a steadying influence amid some frantic and explosive action could have made all the difference.

Although Warrington applied some pressure in the first half built around Lee Briers' excellent kicking game, better control of the ball could have led to a more convincing lead than the 14-6 they gained.

Some good breaks were wasted because one pass too many cost them possession.

After failing to learn the lesson in the first half and Bradford roaring 18-14 ahead on the strength of a Paul Deacon 40/20 early in the second period, Wolves then paid the ultimate price.

Shontayne Hape's knock-on on the halfway line should have been the relief they needed to turn things around after 13 minutes of constant Bradford possession and pressure.

Five drives and a punishing kick should have been the next ploy but Wolves appeared to panic on the back of falling behind for the first time.

Brent Grose's rushed pass to Henry Fa'afili was ruled forward and handed possession back to Bulls - and the next time Warrington hands touched the ball they were 30-14 behind.

Wolves looked threatening again when they were finally able to complete some sets.

And when Sam Burgess was sin-binned for kicking at Rob Parker's play-the-ball there was hope of a comeback after Chris Leikvoll ploughed over from short range for only the third try of his Wolves career, leaving 12 minutes to score two converted tries.

But the contest was finally over when Bradford counter-punched from a Grose chip kick over the top of Bradford's defence.

Warrington players and supporters bellowed at referee Ashley Klein for an obstruction by Leslie Vainikolo on Grose after his kick but Platt recovered the ball and completed a satisfactory day's work for himself with his hat-trick try from 80m.

Warrington Wolves 20 Bradford Bulls 36.

Wolves: Stuart Reardon; Henry Fa'afili, Brent Grose, Paul Johnson, Richie Barnett; Michael Sullivan, Lee Briers (4g); Chris Leikvoll (1t), Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Mike Wainwright, Ben Westwood (2t), Rob Parker. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Paul Wood, Steve Pickersgill, Chris Riley.

Bulls: Michael Platt (3t); Marcus St Hilaire, Ben Harris, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo (1t); Iestyn Harris, Paul Deacon (6g); Joe Vagana, Terry Newton, Chris Feather, David Solomona, Jamie Langley, Glenn Morrison (1t). Subs used: James Evans (1t), Matt Cook, Sam Burgess, Nathan McAvoy.

Referee: Ashley Klein.

Scoring: Briers bangs over a penalty from 35m after Langley interference, 13mins, 2-0; Rampaging Parker run leads to Briers threading Westwood over, 17mins, Briers converts, 8-0; Parker concedes a penalty for holding down and it paves the way for Platt to bump off Reardon and cross, 21mins, Deacon adds goal, 8-6; Briers darts and dinks a grubber over the try line for Westwood to dive and get the touch, 34mins, Briers hits the target, 14-6; Bradford find touch from the restart and it leads to Morrison shrugging off Briers and Reardon to cross, 39mins, Deacon finds the mark, 14-12; Klein adjudged Briers' drop out not to have gone 10m and Deacon slots the penalty goal, 47mins, 14-14; Deacon's 40/20 sets the platform for Morrison to put Vainikolo over, 51mins, 14-18; Riley fails to clear Deacon kick and Evans pounces, 56mins, Deacon tags on the two points, 14-24; Langley breaks from halfway with Morrison then sending Platt clear, 58mins, Deacon nails the bonus points, 14-30; Leikvoll crashes over from short range, 68mins, Briers strokes home the goal, 20-30; Platt retrieves Grose's chip kick and scoots 80m, 75mins, Deacon converts, 20-36.

Sin bin: Burgess, 46mins.

Pens: Wolves 6 Bulls 5.

Scrums: Wolves 6 Bulls 6.

Attendance: 12,607.

Warrington Guardian top men: Rob Parker 3pts, Ben Westwood 2pts, Chris Leikvoll 1pt.

Interesting note: Wolves' highest attendance at The Halliwell Jones Stadium for a clash with Bradford Bulls.