Champions and league leaders Bradford Bulls celebrated two years of Super League invincibility in home games with a seven-try victory over the depleted Tigers.

This was the Bulls' 27th successive home win in Super League since they lost 28-26 to Leeds at Odsal in July 2000.

The win was convincing in the end but for long spells in the first half they struggled to find their touch and could only manage two tries by full back Michael Withers and hooker James Lowes, one of which followed a disputed forward pass.

Bradford scrum-half Paul Deacon kicked six goals from seven attempts and became the first player to reach the century mark in Super League matches this season.

Castleford missed half a dozen regulars, notably forward trio Dean Sampson and Michael Smith - who were both suspended - and Nathan Sykes.

The Tigers however lived up to their nickname defensively for long spells in the first period as they battled hard to keep alive their outside chance of finishing in the top six for a play-off place.

The game slipped away from them completely however soon after the restart as the Bulls grabbed three tries in a five-minute spell to stretch their lead to a commanding 30-0.

Leading try scorer Tevita Vaikona sparked the try burst with a powerful effort from 30 metres, then centre Lee Gilmour raced in from near halfway after a break by second rower Daniel Gartner, soon to be followed by winger Lesley Vainikolo after good work by Deacon.

With Deacon converting all three, including one from the touchline, the Bulls had the game in the bag but Castleford battled on..

Their much weakened pack struggled to cope with the power of the home six but there was sterling work from Ryan Hudson, Andy Lynch and Lee Harland.

After 59 minutes Bradford's Brian McDermott was placed on report by referee Richard Silverwood after a tackle on Castleford's Adrian Rainey and from the resulting penalty winger Waine Pryce squeezed in at the corner to open their account.

The Bulls hit back immediately with further tries from centre Scott Naylor and McDermott but Castleford found consolation for their persistence with late tries by Rainey and substitute Wayne Godwin, both converted by hooker Wayne Bartrim.

Bradford assistant coach Darrel Shelford said: "We still have got plenty of work to do, but that was the sort of tough game we needed before facing Leeds next week.

"Cas are a gritty side and they stuck at it. We let in a couple of soft tries but generally we are moving in the right direction at this stage of the season."