Workington Town are trailing in this League One play-off decider at half time against Bradford Bulls 12-2.

It has been a tough encounter from the kick off with no quarter given by either side and that has come at a cost at times.

Town began the encounter well with a superb defensive set but then back to back penalties gave the Bulls possession near the Workington line.

And you cannot give any leeway to this Bradford side as they whipped the ball out to the right and Jy Hitchcox, on dual registration from Castleford, touched down but they could not convert from the touchline.

Town looked to make the most of a penalty of their own that brought them just short of the halfway line. They attacked down the left hand flank but unfortunately Scott Rooke was just bundled into touch short of the line.

An early kick from Jamie Doran had Elliott Miller haring after the ball but Bradford just wrapped up the danger inches from his own line.

But then Bradford broke away and it was only a superb tackle from Tyllar Mellor that wrapped up Matty Garside in the middle of the field.

However, it was Garside who turned villain moments later as he looked to interfere with play and was sent to cool his heels in the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Hitchcox and Elliot Minchella looked to play a series of one-twos down the right hand flank, looking to bamboozle the Town defence but they put in one pass too many and the ball came loose.

And Town thought they had levelled matters when Scott Rooke scored out wide but the ref had already blew up for an obstruction.

Ollie Wilkes had been leading from the front for Town and it was a huge blow when he had to leave the field, limping after a big collision, with Fuifui Moimoi taking his place.

It was getting tasty out there with Carl Forber on the receiving end of a bad tackle and when they picked up the penalty, Forber kicked it between the sticks to reduce the deficit to just two points.

But in the final few minutes of the half Bradford picked up two crucial tries. First George Flanagan went over from close range, with Keyes again off target with the two-pointer.

Keyes soon made up for it though as he dummied his way through the Town defence and used his pace to race 40-metres to touch down but could not tag on the extras.

Moments later the hooter sounded for half time with Bradford leading the game 12-2.