Bradford Bulls recovered from their energy-sapping derby draw with Leeds Rhinos with a 20-16 victory over Crusaders RL in an enthralling Engage Super League victory at the Grattan Stadium.



The Bulls outscored their opponents by three tries to two, but with Michael Witt converting both of his side's scores and Bradford only managing one, the half-time deficit was just two points.



Two Witt penalties edged the Crusaders ahead after the break but a converted score from Michael Platt eight minutes from time clinched the win.



The first try came with just three minutes on the clock when Matt Orford thumped the ball down field.



After the pack had punched their way to within a few metres of the line, the ball was spun left and Orford's long pass coupled with some quick hands from Chris Nero allowed Dave Halley to dive over in the corner.



Orford was way off-target with the conversion attempt but the blustery conditions certainly played a part.



The Wrexham-based club, who had not played for 10 days, mustered a speedy response when Weller Hauraki forced his way over during the aftermath of a Brett Kearney knock-on close to the Bulls' line.



A couple of tackles followed but the second-row finally crossed just to the left of the sticks with Witt tagging on the extras.



Paul Sykes then struck the posts with a penalty before a 40-20 from Witt gave the visitors another good field position.



The ball travelled through several pairs of hands, as some good short passing saw the ball worked left for Vince Mellars to score in the corner with 23 minutes gone.



Witt slotted another great conversion but just four minutes later the West Yorkshire club hit back. Sykes' high, hanging kick bounced awkwardly over Gareth Thomas midway between the posts and the left touchline for Nero to touch down.



And they regained the lead when the hulking figure of Glenn Hall powered his way across the whitewash in the 32nd minute.



After taking a short pass from Orford the big Australian wrestled his way through a couple of tackles and grounded the ball. Orford then slotted the first Bulls goal of the afternoon.



Crusaders went close just after the break but the combination of Kearney and Platt managed to hold Mellars up as he went for the line.



A couple of minutes later Rikki Sheriffe produced a try-saving tackle on Nick Youngquest with the Crusaders on the ascendancy.



Bulls second-row Elliott Whitehead was a fingertip away from getting on the end of an Orford grubber with 10 second-half minutes gone. But the first points of the half went to Crusaders when Witt pulled them level with a penalty awarded for a high tackle in the 52nd minute.



Mike Worrincy then infringed at the play-the-ball but Witt spurned the opportunity to boot his side ahead.



But he made no such mistake in the 66th minute after the Bulls had committed a similar offence.



The Bulls, who handed the Crusaders their first win in Engage Super League in the same fixture last year, began to dominate and finally crossed for the match-winning score in the 72nd minute.



Orford dummied his way through the first line of defence, Nick Scruton took it on and when the full-back arrived he popped the ball right for Platt to claim his second try in four games.