Bradford Bulls narrowly failed to leapfrog Harlequins into the engage Super League play-offs positions with a far from comfortable win at Odsal.

After surging 18-0 ahead in the opening 12 minutes, the Bulls led 30-12 at the break, but, in a scrappy second half, they too often flattered to deceive and were left grateful for a glut of wasted chances by Harlequins.

Injury troubles meant both teams had a patched-up look and, for Harlequins, the situation got worse when Scott Hill, the stand-off, was led away with a arm injury after five minutes.

Hill's departure heralded a period of authority for the home side, with tries from Sam Burgess, Dave Halley and David Solomona and three conversions by Paul Deacon. Two breakaway tries in three minutes by Michael Worrincy, the second-row forward, converted by Henry Paul, hinted briefly at an unlikely turnaround in the teeth of a sudden blizzard. But, after James Evans made the most of confusion caused by Deacon's towering kick to score after 33 minutes - and Deacon himself span over just before the break - Bradford seemed firmly in the driving seat and heading for victory.

Tries for Paul and Dwayne Barker lit up an otherwise uninspiring second half in reply to a penalty goal by Deacon for Bradford.

Scorers: Bradford Bulls: Tries: Burgess, Halley, Solomona, Evans, Deacon. Goals: Deacon 6. Harlequins: Tries: Worrincy 2, Paul, Barker. Goals: Paul 4.

Bradford Bulls: D Halley; J Evans, P Sykes, S Hape, S Tadulala; B Jeffries, P Deacon; A Lynch, T Newton, S Burgess, D Solomona, C Nero, S Finnigan. Interchanges: C Kopczak, W Godwin, M Cook, I Harris.

Harlequins: J Wells; T Clubb, M Gafa, D Howell, R Sheriffe; S Hill, H Paul; K Temata, C Randall, D Ward, M Worrincy, R Purdham, J Mbu. Interchanges: G Haggerty, C Melling, D Barker, J Grayshon.

Referee: A Klein.